What is IDEA and who does it protect? How does it differ from the ADA?
IDEA is an education act that gives federal monies to state and local education toward special education and such services for children with disabilities. IDEA protects children ages 3-21 who are deemed eligible for disability services, special education, and related services. Usually these services are referred to as special education and the student will have an IEP, or individualized education program. IDEA provides special education for 13 specific disabilities. ADA’s 504 plan provides services for children with any disability, including learning or attention issues. ADA prohibits discrimination in the workplace, public services, and accommodations for those with disabilities. ADA protects any individual with a disability that limits life activities.
Understood.org shares an infographic to help outline the differences:
How do ADA, IDEA and other legislation in the readings and your exploration so far apply to you in your working (or future working) life (where might or do you find yourself needing to take ADA, IDEA, etc. into account?)
As a college faculty member, these legislations apply in my interactions with students. Sometimes I have students who have worked with UAF’s disability services and present documentation of their needs. Other times I have referred students to our disability services or have moved them to a seat where they could see or hear better and have shown them tools on their computer to make things larger. When my student interaction is in an academic advising capacity, I make sure students are aware of available campus resources, such as the assistive technology lab.
As a parent, the IDEA legislation is particularly pertinent: my child may have special needs identified that would indicate the need for special education and an IEP.
IEP Roadmap created by the National Center for Learning Disabilities and hosted by elearninggraphics.com:
In either role, I appreciate sites like theinclusiveclass.com with links such as “The 10 Best Websites for the Inclusive Classroom.”
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