504 Plans and IDEA Information
Teachers are constantly faced
with decisions about educational plans for students with disabilities. The
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 provides certain education remedies (504 plans) for
such students. The concept and practice of "inclusion" has resulted
in new challenges for teachers, administration, and parents to provide
effective educational experiences for students. Perhaps one of the most
misunderstood provisions of the law is that of the integrity of the curriculum
for such students. There are, to be sure, many opinions and practices in the
development and implementation of individual 504 plans. A building consensus
supports the idea that the curriculum (what is intended that students learn) is
not to be altered or modified for students who otherwise qualify for 504 plans.
What this means, in a practical sense, is that teachers and administrators must
provide instructional and environmental accommodations for these students,
but that the curriculum is the same for all students.
The following links provide
useful, and therefore practical information about 504 plans and IDEA
(Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) provisions. Many of them are links
to pages of school systems that deal with these issues on a continuous basis.
Their experiences give great insight into this area of teaching, learning, and
the law. I have tried to exclude sites that are purely commercial or that offer
specific products. If you have suggestions for other links, please send email
to Dr. Robert Kizlik.
ADHD: A Path to Success
Office
of Special Education Programs Technical Assistance and Dissemination (TA&D)
Network
The HEATH
Resource Center of the American Council on Education
The National Information
Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities
Questions and answers about Section 504 and ADHD
What is IDEA?
IDEA Overview
Developing an IEP
Glossary
of Special Education Terms
Council of
Educators for Students with Disabilities
Frequently Asked Questions
An Oregon
Court Case (interesting reading for parents and teachers)
Family
Village School (IEP Links)
Comparison
of IDEA, Section 504 and the ADA