Understanding the Education of Handicapped Act: A Comprehensive Guide for Parents and Educators
The Education of Handicapped Act (EHA), which was later renamed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), was enacted in 1975 to safeguard the rights of children with disabilities to receive a free and appropriate public education. The act has gone through several amendments since then, with the most recent one being in 2004. If you’re a parent or educator of a child with a disability, understanding the EHA is crucial. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll take a closer look at what the EHA is, what it entails, and how it impacts the education system.
What is the Education of Handicapped Act?
The EHA was enacted in 1975 with the aim of providing equal opportunities for children with disabilities to receive an education. The act mandates that every child with a disability, from birth to the age of 21, is entitled to a free and appropriate public education that meets their unique needs. The EHA also requires schools to provide an individualized education program (IEP) for each student with a disability. The IEP outlines the student’s learning goals and the specific accommodations and services that will help the student achieve those goals.
What Does the Education of Handicapped Act Entail?
Under the EHA, schools are required to identify and evaluate children with disabilities. This evaluation is conducted by a multidisciplinary team of professionals and includes a comprehensive assessment of the child’s cognitive, academic, physical, and social-emotional functioning. If the child is determined to have a disability that adversely affects their educational performance, the school must develop an IEP for the child. The IEP must be reviewed and updated annually to ensure that it continues to meet the child’s needs.
The EHA also mandates that students with disabilities be educated in the least restrictive environment (LRE) possible. This means that students should be placed in general education classrooms to the maximum extent appropriate, and that special education services should be provided in the general education setting whenever possible. Only if the student’s disability is so severe that they cannot receive an appropriate education in the general education setting should they be placed in a more restrictive environment.
How Does the Education of Handicapped Act Impact the Education System?
The EHA has had a significant impact on the education system. It has ensured that children with disabilities have access to a free and appropriate public education, which was not always the case before the act was enacted. The act has also led to the development of special education programs and services, as well as the training of special education teachers and staff.
However, the implementation of the act has not been without challenges. Critics argue that the act places an undue burden on schools to provide expensive and specialized services to students with disabilities. Others argue that the act does not go far enough to ensure that students with disabilities are truly receiving the education they deserve.
Conclusion
The Education of Handicapped Act, now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, has played a crucial role in ensuring that children with disabilities have access to a free and appropriate public education. The act mandates that schools provide specialized services and accommodations for students with disabilities, and that each student has an individualized education program to meet their unique needs. While the act has led to many positive changes in the education system, it also has its share of challenges. Nonetheless, it remains an important piece of legislation for parents and educators of children with disabilities to understand and advocate for.
