Special education leaders need to be aware of long-standing general regulatory requirements under [image omitted]504 for which school districts are often vulnerable. Special education leaders also have to keep current on recent legal developments for "[image omitted]504-only" students, including the effects of the Americans with…

Those who teach employment discrimination law, particularly as a separate course or part of a course on employment law, are used to covering a broad range of legal models and issues pertaining to the protected classes under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. The disparate treatment, disparate impact, and hostile environment models of…

There is no evidence that physically restraining or putting children in unsupervised seclusion in the K-12 school system provides any educational or therapeutic benefit to a child. In fact, use of either seclusion or restraints in non-emergency situations poses significant physical and psychological danger to students. Yet the first round of data…

This paper presents part I of the "Massachusetts Primer on Special Education and Charter Schools." It provides an explanation of a charter school's legal status within the Massachusetts public education system and a synopsis of federal laws that are most relevant to special education in charter schools. The information is intended for…

Public education is one of the central tasks of a democratic society, and the buildings that house this important task not only shape the way one teaches, but provide icons and symbols for the values people hold common as a society. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this context has placed school buildings squarely in a position of debate and innovation…

This paper explores the need to adopt legislative and regulatory safeguards to guarantee equal access by people with disabilities to evolving high speed broadband, wireless and Internet-based technologies. Recommendations include: (1) Communications Access--FCC or Congress: Extend the telecommunications accessibility requirements of Section 255 of…

The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board has issued guidelines to serve as the basis for enforceable standards to be adopted by the Department of Justice for new construction and alterations of play areas covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The guidelines include scoping and technical provisions for ground level…

Although federal U.S. regulations require schools to provide equal access to educational opportunities for all students, many technologies used in K-12 schools present accessibility barriers for students with disabilities. Interviews assessed knowledge of educational department staff, teachers, and parents of children in K-12 schools in the…

Cooperative extension sites may not meet Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines. Extension agents should evaluate the following areas to ensure compliance: facilities, marketing, decision making, faculty awareness, resources, policies, and evaluation. (SK)

The organization and format of this primer which is designed for state officials differs from the other two in this series based on the recommendations of the state officials who participated in the Special Education Technical Assistance for Charter Schools (SPEDTACS) Project state team meetings convened to assist in the development of the set of…

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 builds on earlier federal laws and clarifies the obligations school boards have toward employees with disabilities. One useful tool for figuring out what reasonable accommodations are necessary is the Work Experience Survey. A resource list identifies additional sources of information on employer…

The Americans with Disabilities Act has addressed shortcomings in public education's treatment of the disabled by essentially codifying judicial interpretations of Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act that have evolved since its passage and extending the context of applicability. (42 references) (MLF)

Discusses considerations when contemplating gym renovation, including examples of illustrative schools: Is the current volume adequate to consider renovation? Does the current structure allow for expansion? How will Americans with disabilities regulations affect the project? Is there an alternate space to hold classes and sporting events during…

Discusses the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) and Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS) regulations regarding public facilities' crowd control stanchions and queuing systems. The major elements are protruding objects and wheelchair accessibility. Describes how to maintain compliance with the regulations and offers a list of additional…

A review of provisions, guidelines, and compliance standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act identifies potential problems but concludes that the law will succeed if (1) beneficiaries participate; (2) goals and standards are clearly communicated; and (3) detailed enforcement procedures are instituted. (SK)