I am confused about the laws for students with disabilities. Are the Individuals With Disabilities Education Actand Section 504 the same law? If they are two separate laws, what is the difference between them? - Special Needs
Answer: IDEA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are separate laws, serving children with different needs. IDEA is primarily remedial in nature and designed to help all school-age children who fall into one of the following categories:
* Autism Spectrum Disorder
* Blind or Low Vision
* Cognitive Disability
* Deaf or Hard of Hearing
* Deaf-blind
* Developmental Delay
* Emotional Disability
* Language or Speech Impairment
* Multiple Disabilities
* Other Health Impairment
* Orthopedic Impairment
* Specific Learning Disability
* Traumatic Brain Injury
Section 504 serves children and adults who have special conditions that make it necessary to modify their school program to meet their needs. These include:
* A drug or alcohol dependency
* ADD/ADHD
* Health needs
* Communicable diseases
* Social maladjustment
* Learning disability but without a severe discrepancy between IQ and achievement
* Student with a disability who no longer qualifies for help under IDEA
IDEA requires formal evaluation by a multidisciplinary team made up of such people as teachers, parents, therapists and others who are providing services for the child. If a student is discovered to have a disability, an Individualized Education Program is written. It gives the goals and objectives of the program and states what services will be provided. On the other hand, Section 504 does not require a full evaluation nor an IEP. However, Section 504 still requires a written plan describing a student's placement and all services and accommodations that will be provided.
Whether a child falls under IDEA or 504, the child must receive services. Those who fall under 504 are protected for the rest of their lives. Help under IDEA ends when an individual turns 23.