{"id":354954,"date":"2016-04-04T11:01:45","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T16:01:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/education\/special-education-and-disabilities\/an-overview-of-special-ed-law.html"},"modified":"2024-01-23T08:15:27","modified_gmt":"2024-01-23T13:15:27","slug":"an-overview-of-special-ed-law","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/education\/special-education-and-disabilities\/an-overview-of-special-ed-law.html","title":{"rendered":"An Overview of Education Support and Services for Students With Disabilities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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An Overview of Education Support and Services for Students With Disabilities<\/h1>\n
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\n By Jade Yeban, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Susan Mills Richmond, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

In America, all students have the right to education. This country is filled with laws and systems to help students with disabilities get the support they need. <\/p>\n

Some of those laws and many schools often use the outdated terms "special education" and "special needs." The preferred term for this type of teaching is "individual education" or "accessible education." It is designed for students with disabilities and other individual needs. Accessible education helps these learners get the most out of their school experience.<\/p>\n

This article provides a brief overview of various accessible education laws in the United States.<\/p>\n

Individuals With Disabilities Education Act<\/h2>\n

The Education for All Handicapped Children Act<\/a>, which became law in 1975, was a game-changer for students with disabilities. This law meant that public schools had to offer free and suitable education to all students, no matter their needs.<\/p>\n

Later, this law became known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act<\/a>, or IDEA. The federal government, under U.S. Code Title 20, Chapter 33<\/a>, ensures rights to students with disabilities and their families through IDEA. IDEA governs all states that accept federal funding.<\/p>\n

IDEA is a central part of education law. The defining purpose of IDEA is to guarantee students a free appropriate public education<\/a> (FAPE). This education should prepare students for further education, employment, and independent living. <\/p>\n

FAPE, guaranteed to those children with disabilities aged three to 21, includes an educational program that is individualized to the specific child. This is called an Individualized Education Program, or IEP. This program is designed to meet that child’s unique needs and provide them access to the general curriculum. These programs meet the grade-level standards established by the state.<\/p>\n

Education support and service laws also call for the student’s parents to be an integral part of their child’s education. IDEA ensures that the parents of students with disabilities have the following rights:<\/p>\n