| SolveYourProblem
eLearning Series: Learning Disabilities
The Bottom Line On Learning Disabilities
( 50 articles in this series )
Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
IDEA stands for the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act, which is a special education law designed
to protect and help those who suffer from LD (learning disabilities) and other types of disabilities. Originally put in place in
1975, it has been modified and improved as late as 2004. This
law was passed to make sure that children with disabilities
got a free and adequate public education like all other children.
This guides states that public schools must provide special
education and its related services to all children who qualify.
This will ensure that children with disabilities will have
access to the general curriculum to the maximum extent they
can. The State and Federal governments must improve all schools
to ensure that the children who qualify will get the proper
education they need. Children will be able to participate in
special education with out having to be sent away to special
schools. Regular classroom adaptations must be provided when
possible. This includes special education, services, aids,
supports, and assertive technology.
The goal of IDEA is to make
schools capable of meeting the needs and developmental
goals of children with disabilities
to the maximum extent possible. It is designed to help prepare
children for productive, independent adult lives with a good
educational foundation to the best of each individual’s ability.
This law also protects children and parents of children with
disabilities’ rights. It also ensures that parents and educators
will have the necessary tools to support and help children
with LD get the most out of their education. This includes
assistive technological devices, which include any item, piece
of equipment, or product that will increase or maintain a child
with a disability. Assistive technological services are also
included as well. This includes any service that directly assists
a child in their learning process.
This law also defines
the guidelines for what a child with a disability is. This definition includes mental retardation,
hearing and visual impairments, speech and/or language impairments,
serious mental or emotional disorders, autism, orthopedic issues,
health impairments, traumatic brain injury, or specific learning
disabilities. For children with LD, there are two classes to
choose from. There is the class of specific learning disorders
that are the primary diagnosis and otherwise the child is of
normal intelligence. This includes those disorders that cause
difficulty for a child to listen, think, speak, write, spell,
or do math. This type includes children who have perceptual
disabilities, brain injury either through trauma or congenital,
minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia.
The LD being secondary characteristics of a more serious or
debilitating disorder classifies the second class of children
with disabilities. These children would be considered disabled
but not qualify as LD due to the fact that there is another
cause for the impairment. This would include children with
mental retardation, vision and hearing disabilities, motor
disabilities, or emotional and mental disturbances.
This would make sure that all
children who are disabled no matter how severe would get
free appropriate public education.
This will be at the expense of the government even if there
has to be adaptations and services provided. This is called
for all schools from elementary up to high school. The law
also provides each disabled child to an individualized education
program or IEP. It is a written statement that is developed,
reviewed as necessary, and revised when needed. It is the contract
that tells what services and programs the child is eligible
for and how and when they will be implemented. The IEP will
include all related services needed for the child. These include
any transportation, corrective and other supportive devices
to help the child be at their best. Other services that will
be included if needed at no cost to the family are speech-language
pathology and audiology services, psychological services, physical
and occupational therapy, recreation, including therapeutic
recreation, social work services, counseling services, including
rehabilitation counseling, orientation and mobility services,
and medical services that may help a child learn better and
have an early diagnosis.
IDEA also defines
what is considered special education and what it entails. This is termed as specially designed instruction
at no parental cost that meets the needs of a disabled child.
The instruction includes any education in the classroom, at
home, in a hospital or institution, and in physical education.
The education is designed to fit the child’s needs. This law
was passed to make sure that no child for any reason was left
without an education. It also provides transitional services
for going to work and living as independently as possible.
This was designed to protect our children and their families.
# # # # #
SolveYourProblem.com
: 2006
> Home > Learning
Disability
Articles : Main Page
|
