For this 23rd article in the series reviewing recent court decisions concerning appropriate school psychology practice from both professional and legal perspectives, the topic is the substantive standard for free appropriate public education (FAPE) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), with a focus on the classification of…

The purpose of this brief is to help families and educators understand the right of students with disabilities who need accessible educational materials to receive these materials in a timely manner. This right is based on provisions in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), as well as in the disability civil rights statutes…

Culturally and linguistically diverse families present schools with unique challenges related to eligibility and programming for special education. There has been a dearth in the literature for this population, especially from a legal standpoint. Existing literature has offered scarce information to address the legal rights and responsibilities of…

The purpose of this study is to investigate factors that may influence school administrators' disciplinary decisions involving students with disabilities. Confirmatory factor analysis suggests that the investigator-developed measures adequately represent the hypothesized latent factors per the pattern of observed responses. The hypothesized…

Many preservice secondary teachers feel well prepared by their teacher preparation programs to teach their content area. However, these same preservice teachers overwhelmingly indicated that more instruction in serving students with special needs-modifications, management techniques, paperwork and educational terms-was warranted. They understand…

The number of students with disabilities pursuing higher education is increasing; therefore, faculty and administrators have a growing need to understand their responsibilities in preventing discrimination against this population (Gamble, 2000). The purpose of this article is to articulate disability legislation mandates and applications to…

This fact sheet describes provisions under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) that prohibit the discriminatory assignment of students with disabilities to segregated classes or facilities. In elementary and secondary schools, students with disabilities may be assigned to…

This report focuses on issues relating to the development of individualized education programs for and placement of students who are classified as having mental retardation, learning disabilities, behavioral disabilities, or serious emotional disturbances. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights examined present-day barriers and inequities that deny…

This participant's manual is part of a training program sponsored by IL NET, a national training and technical assistance project working to strengthen the independent living movement. It is intended to teach participants what the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) law and regulations require, how to do transition planning and the…

This book is designed to reduce the discomfort and alienation of teachers and students regarding people with disabilities. Chapter 1, "The Realities of Disability," discusses the historical prejudice against people with disabilities, legislative changes that make inclusion possible, and disability awareness in the classroom. Chapter 2,…