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Students will analyze and evaluate the influence of legislative regulations on public education, particularly focusing on special education services and the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990).

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1. Research and explain key components of the ADA (1990)
2. Evaluate best practices for including students with physical disabilities
3. Analyze multicultural and compensatory education services
4. Critically examine discrimination effects in education

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How do legislative regulations shape the educational experience of students with diverse needs in public education?

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Video on the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990). View the video and take your nots.

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Analyze real-world cases of ADA implementation in schools. Share findings through final thoughts and presentations.

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ADA Empowerment: Transformative Case Studies in Educational Access for Disabled Americans

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Explore ‘ADA Empowerment: Case Studies in Educational Access’ to discover how the Americans with Disabilities Act transforms learning opportunities for students with disabilities through real-life stories and successes.

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Individual reflection: Name three ways the ADA has influenced public education and one area where you think improvement is still needed.

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Choose one of the following educational legislations to research:

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Choose one of the following educational legislations to research:

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Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

Create a post in the appropriate section that includes:

Year enacted and any major amendments

Key provisions and requirements

Impact on special education and public schools

Real-world examples of implementation

Add a supporting document or video that helps explain the legislation (e.g., infographic, summary document, or explanatory video)

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Add your post that includes your research from the assessment section here in this section

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Add your post that includes your research from the assessment section here in this section

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Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

Enacted: 1975 as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act

Renamed: IDEA in 1990.

Major Amendments:

1997: Strengthened parental involvement and IEP accountability.

2004: Aligned with No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB); focused on early intervention and RTI (Response to Intervention).

IDEA 2004 is still in effect today.

Key Provisions and Requirements:

FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education): All students with disabilities get the education they need at no cost.

IEP (Individualized Education Program): A plan designed for each student's specific needs.

LRE (Least Restrictive Environment): Students with disabilities should be educated with peers without disabilities whenever possible.

Parental Participation: Parents must be involved in decisions about their child's education.

Procedural Safeguards: Legal protections for parents and students.

Impact on Special Education and Public Schools:

Requires students with disabilities to be included in general education settings.

Encourages teamwork between special education teachers, general educators, and families.

Schools must provide necessary accommodations and supports for students.

Funding is tied to following IDEA rules.

Real-World Examples:

IEP Meetings: Parents, teachers, and specialists meet yearly to create a custom plan for each student.

RTI Models: Schools identify students early and offer extra help before they fall behind.

Inclusion Programs: Students with disabilities learn alongside non-disabled peers, often with additional support.

Fact Sheet from Understood:

https://cdn-assets.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/5mCyZWw2Px6V0rd7eM6pD9/2cd896d2bcc9568ed70d86d02c8581b3/IDEA_Fact_Sheet_Understood.pdf

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The ADA has helped make school buildings more accessible, like adding ramps, elevators, and wider doors. It also requires schools to offer accommodations like sign language interpreters, special technology, and extra help in class. Thirdly, the ADA has pushed for more inclusive education, so students with disabilities are taught alongside students without disabilities.

One area for improvement is more support for mental health and learning disabilities.
Schools could do more to support students with ADHD, anxiety, or dyslexia by providing better resources, training for teachers, and clearer guidelines on how to help these students with invisible disabilities succeed.

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Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Enacted: 1973

Major Amendments: Section 504 itself has not had “major amendments”, but it has been significantly influenced by ADA (1990) and the ADAAA (2008).

Key Provisions:

· Prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in federally funded programs.

· Requires "reasonable accommodations" for equal opportunity.

· Mandates Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for students with disabilities in public schools.

· Requires identification, evaluation, and procedural safeguards.

Impact on Schools:

· Protects broader group of students than IDEA.

· Led to "504 plans" for accommodations.

· Increased accessibility and awareness of disability rights.

Real-World Examples:

· Classroom: Preferential seating, extended test time for ADHD.

· Health: Allergy action plans, diabetes management protocols.

· Mobility: Accessible routes, modified furniture for wheelchair users.

· Temporary: Elevator access for broken leg.

Supporting Resource:

· Infographic: "IDEA vs Section 504"

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Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Year Enacted: 1990

*2008 - major amendment: widened the definition of "disability" so more people got the benefits and protections of ADA.

Key Provisions & Requirements:

-Prohibits discrimination of students in schools (and adults in the workforce - I am focusing on education alone for this post) for students with disabilities.

-Definition of "disability". This is a major requirement for 504/IEP plans and allows school districts to be consistent with who they support with plans.

-IEP: students who require an individualized education plan are required to have them.

Impact on Special Ed. & Public Schools:

-Requires students with disabilities to have access to a FAPE.

-Requires schools to follow IEP/504 plans to support students with disabilities.

-This law more broadly covers humans with disabilities and makes sure they are not discriminated against in the schools / workforce. By implementing things like IEPs, the schools can ensure they are doing what they can to stop discrimination against students with disabilities.

Real-World Examples:

-Accessibility in school restrooms / buildings (students in my school are in wheelchairs and require an elevator because my school is 3 floors)

-Students will not fail to graduate solely because they have a learning disability such as dyslexia.

-(non-school example) an employer cannot choose to not hire or fire an employee solely based on their disability - if the action in question is a direct result of their disability.

Supporting document (youtube video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKyjshcxbI0

*This video defines disabilities and explains what ADA does to protect them.

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What is the ADA? Basics and Definitions of the Americans with Disabilities Act

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The ADA, or Americans with Disabilities Act, protects students in the education system from being discriminated against. One example of how this is seen is in my school, we have ramps and elevators for students who need to use wheelchairs. Schools are being built to ensure they are accessible for all students, regardless of physical ability. Another example is that schools are now becoming more technology integrated, which can help assist students who may need accommodations to do with hearing or writing. One final example is that teachers are now being educated on how to ensure every child is being supported, regardless of the disabilities they may or may not have.

One improvement I think that is still needed is for schools to ensure that all classrooms have the same access to technologies and aides that other classrooms have. For example, lots of core subject teachers in my school have ipads and extra speakers to support students with disabilities, but being an elective teacher, I find that I often do not have access to those aides that would prove to be useful for my students.

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The ADA has influenced public education by mandating non-discrimination in all programs and activities, thereby ensuring that no student is excluded from academic, extracurricular, or recreational opportunities solely because of a disability. Additionally, it requires schools to provide accessible communication, which includes offering materials in formats like large print or Braille and providing services such as captioning or interpreters for students, staff, and visitors with vision, hearing, or speech disabilities. Finally, the ADA has fortified inclusive employment practices within public education, guaranteeing qualified individuals with disabilities equal job opportunities and access to reasonable workplace accommodations.

While significant strides have been made, continued improvement is needed in the area of comprehensive professional development for educators. There remains a widespread necessity for regular, meaningful training for teachers and staff covering disability awareness, effective inclusive classroom practices, detailed ADA requirements, and practical strategies for implementing accommodations.

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Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

Enacted: 2015

No major amendments

Key Provisions:

Advances equity by upholding critical protections for America's disadvantaged and high-need students

Requires all students be taught to high academic standards to prepare them for college and beyond

Mandates annual statewide assessments that measure students' progress towards high standards

Helps to support and grow local innovations—including evidence-based and place-based interventions

Increases access to high-quality preschool

Expectation of accountability toward effecting positive change in low performing schools

Impact on Special Education and Public Schools:

Places greater accountability on schools to address low performing schools and students including those with disabilities

Emphasizes the use of preventative frameworks-including multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) and positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS), increasing access to effective academic and behavioral instruction for learners

Places focus on developing effective teachers and leaders who can effectively instruct all students, including students with disabilities.

Real World Examples of Implementation:

Annual and formative assessments to determine students baseline and progress throughout the year to ensure preparation and the meeting of high standards

Students in a classroom receiving leveled texts and targeted instructions to support all students

ESSA funded workshops for teachers on how to provide supports and accommodations for students

General and special education teachers, aides, etc. working together to support the inclusion and learning for students of all abilities

Supporting Material:

Infographic on ESSA
https://edtrust.org/rti/the-every-student-succeeds-act-whats-in-it-what-does-it-mean-for-equity/

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The ADA has improved the public education space by ensuring proper physical accommodations for students, including wheelchair ramps, elevators, etc. ADA also ensures students have equal opportunity to participate in programs, such as extracurricular activities and sports. Additionally, students accommodations in the classroom environment for example aides for communication and modified assignments.

One area of ADA that needs improvement is training for teachers, admin, and support staff to ensure awareness and proper implementation of necessary accommodations for students inside and outside of the classroom whether it be in extracurricular space, online learning, emergency situations, etc.

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Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESSA)

Year enacted:

1965 and reauthorized in 2015

Major amendments:

1966 expanded to add Title VI providing federal funding intended for education those with disabilities

Key provisions and requirements:

the act requires that in order for states and public school systems to receive grant funding they must maintain focus on educational accountability and individual monitoring of students in an effort to make sure every child has the opportunity to succeed and was originally put in place to make the quality of education and any educational opportunities stronger,

Impact on special ed and public schools:

Broadens the accountability and testing requirements and measures beyond standardized testing, improves funding opportunities for schools with children who have disabilities

Real world examples of implementation:

State educational agencies (SEAs) must adopt and maintain academic standards and any teacher working in the facility or district must be licensed or certified according to state regulations and it must be clearly outlined in the planning how inexperienced or lesser qualified teachers do not properly serve low income or minority children

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The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) offers a number of benefits to public education.  Three key areas are:

1.        The protection of those with disabilities from discrimination in all areas of public education.  Children with any and all disabilities cannot be refused from any activities or programs in the public school system.

2.        The physical space the students learn in, ADA addresses things like playgrounds, parking lots, and other spaces both indoors and outdoors to ensure that students of all abilities are able to safely access the public school grounds.

3.        The ADA also makes sure children with disabilities are given the assistive technology needed to support their educational experience.

An area that I think still needs improvement is bridging the social emotional gap for the peers of the students with disabilities.  Offering inclusive activities where students of all abilities and disabilities can take part and become “one” as a community models inclusivity and empathy for the peers of children with disabilities and helps those with disabilities to feel included and engaged with their peers.