IDEA is a law that gives rights to students with disabilities, and stands for “Individuals with Disabilities Education ActA law that gives rights to students with disabilities..” IDEA is for schools that get money from the government.
Not every student with a disability gets rights from IDEA. Autistic students do get rights from IDEA, but to get these rights, you need a diagnosisWhen a doctor says you are autistic..
IDEA says you have the right to:
- Get a diagnosis for your disability
- Go to school
- Go to school for free, like everyone else
- Learn things in school
- Learn the same things as everyone else
- Be in the same classroom as non-disabled students
- Get the help you need to learn
IDEA says you can get services to help you learn in school. Schools need to make a plan called an IEPA plan that schools need to make for each student with a disability. The plan helps set goals for students with disabilities. for each student with a disability. IEP means Individualized Education Plan. The IEP has to say:
- What you know how to do right now
- What you need to learn
- What your goals at school are for the next year
- How the school will know if you are learning
- The services the school will give you
- AccommodationsChanges that make things easier for disabled people. They help us get the same things as non-disabled people. the school will make for you
Some students don’t end up in the same classrooms as everyone else, or take the same tests as everyone else. If these things happen, the IEP needs to say why.
When you turn 16, you also get a transition planA plan that helps disabled students decide what they will do after high school.. It helps you figure out what you will do after high school, and how you’ll meet your goals after high school. You have the transition plan until you are done with school.