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The Law States....
Families must be aware of the laws that exist around a child with special needs, because the influence they have in shaping the future of their children. There are three key laws that for families of children with special needs; the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act. These laws exists to ensure that students with special needs are receiving the right and appropriate services at school and in the community.
IDEA was created to ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them a free appropriate public education (FAPE) that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment and independent living. It also ensures that the rights of children with disabilities and their parents are protected. It assists States, localities, educational service agencies, and Federal agencies to provide for education of all children with disabilities; and assess and ensure the effectiveness of efforts to educate children with disabilities.
Section 504 is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. It ensures that the child with a disability has equal access to an education. The child may receive accommodations and modifications but schools are not required to provide an individualized educational program (IEP) that is designed to meet the child's unique needs and provides the child with educational benefit. Under Section 504, fewer procedural safeguards are available to children with disabilities and their parents than under IDEA.
Finally the American’s with Disabilities Amendments Act enacts a protection for individuals with disabilities from discrimination for reasons related to their disabilities. The main difference between 504 and ADA is that ADA has agencies and businesses comply with the non-discrimination and accessibility provisions of the law.
