Louder Than Ableism: Demanding to Be Heard by Hannah Freyaldenhoven

The First Sound Off 1973

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-06 11:38:45 UTC

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973

This law was the first law giving people with disabilities civil rights. Section 504(a) states that no one with a disability can be left out of any program that receives federal money, including public schools (Rehabilitation Act, 1973).

Benefits

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-06 11:38:59 UTC

With this law, students with disabilities could no longer be legally excluded from school, included school related events and activities. This law gave civil rights to students with disabilities. No more discrimination or exclusion based on ability.

Who do you know?

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-06 12:21:35 UTC

To fully have an understanding of how the disability laws have improved the lives of individuals with a disability, we need to take a moment and think about who you know in your life with a disability. Relatives, a friend, fellow church goer, or a cashier from your favorite store.

Ethan

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-06 12:32:10 UTC

My connection is my youngest son, Ethan. As I read through the disability laws and analyzed their progression and focus on the progression of AT, I understood the need for such laws. While I can see progression has been made incrementally, there is constant need for more action.

Lets talk Law

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-06 12:34:37 UTC

Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-06 12:47:49 UTC

This law ensures all children with disabilities must receive a free and appropriate public education. Schools are now required to create an Individualized Education Program to meet each student’s specific needs (U.S. Government Accountability Office, 2013).

Benefits

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-06 12:53:56 UTC

Students with disabilities now receive public education tailored to the individual through a legal contract between the student and school at no cost. Previously, students with disabilities were in school, but not receiving education appropriate to the disabled student.

FAPE

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-06 12:59:54 UTC

According to the U.S. Department of Education (n.d.), students with disabilities are entitled to a free appropriate public education under Federal law. Students with disabilities have the same right to K-12 public education that students without disabilities have. Section 504 and Title II require public schools to provide appropriate education and modifications, aids, and related services free of charge to students with disabilities.

IEP

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-06 13:02:24 UTC

1988 – Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-06 13:15:41 UTC

With this law, financial aid in the form of grants are given by the Federal government to the states to aid people with disabilities to gain access to technology-related assistance, like speech devices and adaptive computers(Technology-Related Assistance Act, 1988).

Where does the money go

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-06 13:18:27 UTC

While money has been made available, there often seems to be a confusion on where the money goes.

Benefits

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-06 13:21:02 UTC

With access to AT, individuals with disabilities achieved further independence in education and in their personal life; aiding in a improved quality of life and lowered barriers to equality in education/work force.

Is money enough for AT to be successful

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-06 13:38:46 UTC

Assistive Technology in Special Education

1990 Americans with Disabilities Act

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-06 15:48:01 UTC

The ADA made it illegal to discriminate against people with disabilities in public and private facilities, work place, transportation, and schools regardless of receiving federal funding or not (Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990).

Benefits

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-06 15:49:25 UTC

An individual with a disability now had the legal right to enter a restaurant, use the public transportation, apply for a job, or take a college class just like anyone else.

No Limits on Individuals with Disabilities'

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-06 16:07:07 UTC

Listen to how people with disabilities are impacting our world. When we remove discrimination and allow the use of AT, a person's disability becomes the background and their talent is viewed center stage.

Welcome to the 1990s

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-06 16:24:11 UTC

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-06 16:31:01 UTC

According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. §§ 1400–1482, prelim. 2025), students with disabilities are guaranteed access to special education services and transition services. This law called for professional development for special education teachers, parent training, student use of AT, just to name a few.

Benefits

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-06 16:39:42 UTC

Students with a disability now had the support from highly trained teachers, parent training programs, specifically designed learning goals, and advancements in technology and assistive technology.

Brief History of AT

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-06 16:40:16 UTC

1973 Face lift into the 90s

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-06 16:52:46 UTC

The 504 and IEP are both major wins for individuals with a disability, but you need to understand the differences in order to understand one's legal rights.

What is IDEA

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-06 17:01:09 UTC

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law that makes available a free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities throughout the nation and ensures special education and related services to those children, supports early intervention services for infants and toddlers and their families, and awards competitive discretionary grants (U.S. Department of Education, n.d.).

1997- AT for all and Inclusion

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-06 17:04:19 UTC

"IDEA ’97: Overview - The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997 were signed into law on June 4, 1997. This Act strengthens academic expectations and accountability for the nation's 5.8 million children with disabilities and bridges the gap that has too often existed between what children with disabilities learn and what is required in regular curriculum" (National Association of Special Education Teachers, n.d.).

Benefits

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-06 17:07:34 UTC

As the result of this law the United States saw more students with disabilities began learning side by side with their peers instead of in separate classrooms. It has been found that with the right services or AT support individuals with a disability can thrive in an inclusive environment along side typical peers. Every student has the right to have equal and fair access to learning. Even if fair looks different for each when it come to technology used.

2004

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-06 17:12:46 UTC

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004

This version of IDEA focused on accountability — schools had to show that students with disabilities were making progress. It also made sure that assistive technology was still included in planning (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 2004).

Benefits

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-06 17:15:52 UTC

These amendments strengthen accountability for the school to provide an appropriate education to all students and made them accountable for tracking progression and implementing all documented supports in an IEP. To ensure accommodations, services and supports like AT are effective and given when there is a seen need.

All about that Progression

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-10 15:25:38 UTC

Progression: the process of developing or moving gradually towards a more advanced state (Cambridge University Press, n.d.).

AT Progression

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-10 15:29:17 UTC

Civil Rights for individuals with disabilities includes the right for the use of AT.

AT Progression

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-10 15:32:13 UTC

With this law, students with a disability have a legal contract between them and the school. This contract includes support or accommodations that would aid in learning new skills alongside their peers. This contract is very important in laying the ground work of utilizing AT as apart of this legal contract.

AT Progression

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-10 15:37:01 UTC

An individual with disabilities now receive state support through their school and public programs, which allows individuals access to assistive technologies tailored to their needs.

Progression

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-10 15:42:21 UTC

This was huge shift in the United States, now with it being illegal to flat out discriminate against a person with a disability this opened the door to many job opportunities and education advancements for an induvial with an disability. This meant that those with disabilities that need to use AT in order to complete or full fill a job role could no longer be seen as an undesirable job candidate.

AT Progression

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-10 15:44:30 UTC

"Improve technological resources and integrate technology, including universally designed technologies, into the lives of children with disabilities, parents of children with disabilities, school personnel, and others through curricula, services, and assistive technologies" (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1400–1482, prelim. 2025). AT is now in the forefront of the federal governments mind and its evident how important it is to aid in a students independence and education.

AT Progression

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-10 15:46:31 UTC

According to the National Association of Special Education Teachers (n.d.), IDEA '97, "Assistive Technology/Technology Integration - Every year, new technology comes on the market that can enhance the learning of students with exceptionalities. The right technology can provide a student with a disability access to learning opportunities few dared to dream of just a decade ago and provide them the means for academic success." Students now on 504 or IEP are to be evaluated for AT and gives the support to make achievements academically.

AT Progression

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-10 15:46:40 UTC

"IDEA 2004 included a new provision requiring the special education and related services, supplemental aids and services outlined on a student's IEP need to be based on peer-reviewed research to the extent practicable"( LD Online, n.d.).

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-10 15:47:08 UTC

Reference

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-10 15:47:46 UTC

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-10 16:05:20 UTC

Why AT is considered for every student

hannahbethfrey13 — 2025-06-10 16:09:10 UTC

"Fact: Students with disabilities are often dependent on teachers or parents to help with academic tasks. Assistive technology can allow these students to complete academic tasks on their own. This in turn helps them become more independent and to rely on adult support less and less over time"(Vanderbilt University, IRIS Center).