This paper discusses 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that promote the inclusion of children with disabilities in general early childhood education settings. The evolution of inclusion policy is explored and changes in disability terminology are described. Amended provisions are then explained and include:…

This report has been provided to the Legislature on an annual basis since 2000 when the legislature amended the language of G.L. c. 71B to align Massachusetts special education terminology with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This year reports the context of a major change in the way state systems of special…

Examines the PL 99-457 Education of the Handicapped Act for direct and indirect inclusions of physical education citations. Interprets each section relative to statutory intent and implications for rural program compliance. Recommends strategies for ensuring compliance in rural service delivery. Contains 13 references. (SV)

This transcript of a hearing on the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act includes statements by representatives of Hofstra University (New York), Advocates for Children (New York), Self-Initiated Living Options (New York), the National Center on Educational Restructuring and Inclusion (New York), National Center on…

Decisions in both the Bakke and Manhart cases reflect a refusal to permit membership in a group to be the basis for the exclusion or inclusion of an individual in certain places. Problems surrounding the concept of equal opportunity and equal benefits for individuals are discussed in their historical, social, and legal contexts. (SF)

School administrators are caught between the special education requirements of a free appropriate education and the mainstreaming preference embodied in federal law. This article analyzes circuit court cases and explains four overlapping judicial standards that influence mainstreaming decisions. Administrators should avoid blanket-separation and…

In the United States, national legislation was created to protect disabled students' education rights. Courts have provided tests for integrating such students into school systems. Some are concerned this advocacy has gone too far and that court decisions authorizing "full inclusion" misinterpret the law's intent. This article examines…

This book explains federal guidelines for program directors and child care personnel for daily practices and procedures when children with disabilities are admitted to child care programs. The handbook addresses inclusion issues to raise the importance of involving all staff in preparation for efforts to become an inclusive program. Part I begins…

This report provides an overview of programs authorized under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and discusses potential reauthorization issues. Programs include the Grants to States program, preschool program, infants and toddlers program, and discretionary grant programs. For each program, information includes fiscal year…

This report was issued by a conference committee of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to reconcile disagreeing votes on amendments to the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act. The Act is designed to assure that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families participate in the design of and have…

This Congressional hearing on the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was held to define the necessary elements and supports that must be in place in order to make inclusion work successfully for students with disabilities, parents, and teachers. It contains statements and supplemental materials from: (1)…

Section 121 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) requires Regional Workforce Investment Boards (RWIB) to develop a memorandum of understanding (MOUs) with the Regional Workforce Development Center (RWDC) partners to detail how resources will be coordinated across funding streams to operate and provide services for RWDC delivery systems.…

This transcript presents testimony given at a House of Representatives committee hearing on the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Included is the text of an amendment, the Braille Literacy Amendment, which is intended to improve the literacy rate among children with visual impairments. This amendment calls for an…

This report was submitted in support of a joint resolution (S.J. Res. 379) to establish as the policy of the United States the preservation, protection, and promotion of the right of indigenous Americans to practice and develop their indigenous languages. Traditional languages are an integral part of Native American culture, heritage, and…

This guide was developed to inform the child care industry about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and to familiarize child care providers with the importance and value of including all children in regular child care settings. It offers an overview of the law as well as practical solutions to common problems and advice to ensure success in…