Going Back to School

Since this is the time of year when children go back to school, today’s blog post is about exceptional student education (ESE) for those with disabilities. According to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act as well as the ADA (please see my previous blog post for a description of the ADA), people with physical and/or mental impairments cannot be denied the opportunity to be educated. It is possible for children with disabilities to receive an education with understanding and flexibility from educators.

K-12 students with special needs and their parents must discuss with teachers the accommodations needed to make the educational experience productive and positive. One option is a 504 plan, which lists the items students with disabilities need to be at the same level with their non-disabled classmates. An Individualized Education Plan (IEP), an item from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, goes beyond the 504 plan by providing services to some students with disabilities, allowing them to receive instruction and take tests under different conditions if necessary. College students with disabilities can make their special needs known to professors by going to the disability services office at their school.

Students with disabilities should not feel embarrassed about the modifications being made for them; they’re simply being given a chance to succeed at school. I’m thankful for the education I received and for the teachers and other school employees who made it happen by following my IEP and college disability accommodations letter. For more information about the 504 plan and IEP, you can go to http://specialchildren.about.com/od/504s/f/504faq1.htm. To read an article about the updated statistics of Americans with disabilities, go to http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/more-americans-have-a-disability-than-youd-think_55bbb405e4b0d4f33a02ae8e?utm_hp_ref=healthy-living&ir=Healthy%2BLiving&section=healthy-living.