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How IDEA has Impacted Individuals

with disabilities and Others Around
Them
By,
Jordan Maurice

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Abstract:
Through the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), numerous changes have been
implemented within policies, the educational systems, and through the individuals with
disabilities and their families. Support is working through the systems and the families. One of
the purposes of IDEA is to ensure and assess the effectiveness of, efforts to educate children with
disabilities. Families now have a voice and are getting more informed of the treatments and
sources they can utilize. As well if they disagree with a certain process, treatment, behaviors etc.
that are getting implemented on their child they can bring them to court. That is only if it goes to
that level between the parent and the educators methods.

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How IDEA has Impacted Individuals with disabilities and Others Around Them

In 1975, Congress passes Public La 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children
Act. This article of legislation completely changed the face of education in this country. In 1990
the amendment renamed the law the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). The newest name
is Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004. This law reflects societys
concern about treating people with disabilities as full citizens with the same rights and privileges
all other citizens enjoy (Heward 2012 16). The components of IDEA have impacted the
American education system, educators roles within that system, and the lives individuals with
disabilities. It has impacted these through the purposes of IDEA, principles of IDEA, and the
policies of IDEA.
In the last few years individuals with a disability has nearly hit 6 million children and
youth with disabilities and about 2/3rds are males (Heward 2012 8-9). With these purposes the
American education system now had support with the increasing amount of individuals with
Autism or a disability. One of the purposes if IDEA is To ensure that all children with
disabilities have available to them a free appropriate public education that emphasizes special
education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further
education, employment, and independent living. With this support they got funding for free
appropriate public education instead of the parents expense (Heward 2012 16-27). Say a child
with special health needs may require medication several times a day, a child in a wheelchair
may need a special school bus, or a child need orthopedic stretches with his/her legs, arms, hands
and other joints.

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Additionally, parents are getting more help now. Another purpose of IDEA is to ensure
that educators and parents have the neccessaty tools to improve educational results for children
with diavilites by supporting system improvement activates; coordinated research and personnel
preparation; coordinated technical assistance, dissemination, and support. The schools even have
to follow extensive set of procedures to safeguard, protect the rights and interests of their child
(Heward 2012 19). As well if the school and the parents do not agree with results, placements,
identification, or provision the parent may request a due process hearing. To ensure that the child
is correctly placed and to ensure that the parents doesnt feel looped out and to keep the parents
are happy. Schools must collaborate with the parents and students with disabilities in the
planning and implementation of special education and related services. I have been seeing this
implemented in a classroom that I am involved in. This child needs extra support and the parents
have certain goals for this particular child. A few professionals have come in and observed what
the interactions throughout the day, the triggers to lead to a tantrum, what interests or areas are
entertaining, and the triggers to lead to a perfect day. After a few weeks of observations they
implemented a chart where is expresses what this child is feeling. Another thing is that this child
actually chose the words and the description of what each feeling. Lastly, this child knows where
to go, what to do, how to express the feelings and how to calm down to continue the day. This
works more days than not for the time being. This childs parents were part of these transitions
that they implemented in their household when these feelings arise. For this particular family,
they are much happier, smiling more, and the child actually wants to do more. Through IDEA
this family now has strategies to help their child and can better understand their child when the
childs feelings/emotions arise to a point that cant be stopped for a while or without someone
getting hurt.

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Lastly, through the IDEA and other educators are now requiring at least some training
and knowledge of individuals with disabilities. From the stats of the increasingly children that
are having the developmental issues they are seeing a fit for future educators. In the typical
classrooms of the American education system about 18.8 percent have a disability that they need
help with.
Starting in 1975, The American education system has changed for individuals with
disabilities from the components of IDEA. It reflected the societys concern of these individuals
to safeguard, protect the rights and interests of their child. Society is now seeing their
contribution of the community surrounding them as well as other communities.

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References
Heward, W. L. (2012). Exceptional Children: An Introduction to Special Education (10th
Edition): Ohio State University: Pearson.
Snyder, T. D., Dillow, S.A. (2011). Digest of Educational Statistics 2011: Institute of Education
Sciences: National Center for Educational Statistic