The goal of The Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA) was put into place to enable children with special needs to have access to free suitable unrestricted education. Young children with special needs have the opportunities to attend preschool, head start, or public school without the negative impact of today’s society. Special programs and services are available to students with severe health conditions and long term effects of disabilities. In this paper the implementation of Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA) will be explained in how it addresses the needs of children with disabilities in the school setting. Before 1975 children with disabilities did not have any civil rights to an education in public schools. Children with disabilities were excluded from attending public schools unable to obtain a free education. “IDEA-The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was originally enacted by Congress in 1975 to ensure that children with disabilities have the opportunity to receive a free appropriate public education, just like other children” (IDEA-the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act-National Dissemination Center..., 2012). Many children who suffered from disabilities went with little to no education before this law was passed. Kids were kept at home or were institutionalized due to the families not being able to handle or accept the disability. Children who attended school were separated from other peers and excluded from nondisabled children. Students were not given a chance to interact with peers who did not have a disability. Due to a lack of services offered at public schools for children with disabilities families were forced to look outside of the school system and seek resources from other agencies to help. Since the law was passed in 1975 it’s been amended numerous times to give free and appropriate education to children with disabilities. The term free in the IDEA-act refers to parents receiving no charge for the services given to his/her child. Meaning, for children needing speech therapy this service will be available to the student in the school setting with no charges to the parents. An appropriate education is given to children based on that child’s specific needs and will differ from each child based on his or her needs. However, before a child can be assessed permission must be given by the parent before any future steps may take place. Only after permission is given by the parent can steps towards determining if a child qualifies for services from Individuals with Disability Education Act. Students must meet the criteria described within the IDEA through an evaluation. “It’s also important to understand that State definitions of individual disabilities can play a critical role in whether or not a child meets the definition of a “child with disability”. As long as State definitions are consistent with IDEA’s, States may establish additional criteria in the disability areas and frequent do, setting policies that explain each of the 13 disabilities in their own terms” (Q & A on IDEA 2004: Purposes and Key Definitions-National Dissemination Center, 2009).
Personally my child was tested within the public school system of NC and was found to have speech impairment due to the numerous sets of tubes placed in his ears. Steps were taken such as meeting with his teachers at the school to discuss special services that could be offered to help address his needs. Speech was provided to him to help with the development of his words at no cost to us. Speech services were provided for my son over a two year period. Although he did not meet the definition of a child with a disability he did qualify for other services that were available to help fit his needs. “Who qualifies for IDEA services are; autism, deaf/blind, deafness, hearing impaired, mental retardation, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, serious emotional disturbance, specific