A Quick Reference Guide to Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA

By Ava Shaw

What is IDEA?

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a United States federal law that governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education and related services to children with disabilities.

It is part of the original Civil Rights laws passed in 1964. 

IDEA is designed to ensure that all children receive “a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment.”

How does it function? 

IDEA provides Federal funding for the education of Individuals with Disabilities to states that comply with the requirements of the law. States may not provide less service or support than outlined in the law and the student’s IEP. However, they can provide more or additional services and support. Any state to be found “out of compliance” with the law are subject to losing Federal funding for education.

IDEA requires that anyone between the ages of 3 and 22 years old be afforded “a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment.” What this means is that students who can maintain appropriate behaviors in mainstream, or general education classrooms, should be placed there. Student placement is to be based on both academic skill levels and behavior in the learning environment. If the student can maintain behaviors in the mainstream class that do not interrupt the learning of other students, then the teacher must modify the curriculum to match the skill level of the Special Needs student.

What does this have to do with ABA?

Pretty much, this is where ABA comes in. Students with behavior issues may have higher academic skills than can be addressed in a self-contained classroom. The law requires that they be mainstreamed, but their behaviors often compromise their ability, and the class’s, to learn. 

Often, the solution is to assign a Behavior Therapist to these students and teach them appropriate behaviors that will facilitate their academic learning and interactions with others.

There are cases where a student’s academic abilities are appropriately met in a self-contained classroom, but their behaviors are such that significant modification is needed. In these situations, a Behavior Therapist is assigned and works with the student in the self-contained classroom, as well as during non-academic settings, i.e. lunch, Physical Education and recess.

For more information regarding IDEA, visit: http://idea.ed.gov/.