Teacher Thoughts

Students with disabilities should have access to a free education that meets their needs and 504 Plans and Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) help ensure students receive appropriate services. 504 plans fall under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a civil rights law, and IEPs fall under IDEA which is an educational law (Understanding Special Education, 2016). IEPs are for students who qualify for special education because they have at least one of the 13 categorized disabilities which include autism, blindness, deafness, emotional disturbance, hearing impairment, intellectually disabled, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impaired, specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, and visual impairment (Understanding Special Education, 2016). Students who do not qualify for special education, such as those who have ADHD, but require some form(s) of accommodations are eligible for a 504 plan (ADDitude, n.d.)

https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/1802186 Special Education refers to specially designed instruction that meets the specific needs of a student who has a disability and its current status lies within the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, IDEA (Understanding Special Education, 2016). IDEA is a law that makes education free and available to students with disabilities across the nation and ensures that these students receive appropriate special education services (IDEA, n.d.). IDEA came into effect in 1990, was reauthorized in 1997, and then reauthorized again in 2004, which is the most current law that states and public agencies follow. Everyone has the right to learn and just because one has a disability does not make that individual less of a person. With that said, IDEA was created to improve the chances of a student with disabilities to contribute to society and develop and share their talents. Students in special education have opportunities to le