Federal Disability Laws Policies and Initiatives

National Council on Disability- An independent federal agency making recommendations to the President and Congress on issues affecting 54 million Americans with disabilities.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) - The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law ensuring services to children with disabilities throughout the nation. IDEA governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education and related services to more than 6.5 million eligible infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities. The website is a comprehensive resource on the law offered by the U.S. Department of Education.
The OSEP Spanish Glossary Project - Developed by the Region 1 Parent Technical Assistance Center@SPAN, the OSEP Spanish Glossary provides Spanish translations of terms related to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
ADA Document Center- Links to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) materials, enforcement and technical assistance.
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) (NICHCY en Español) offers a wealth of information and resources on disabilities.
The U.S. Department of Education’s ESEA Flexibility website provides information on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) flexibility option, where state educational agencies can request to implement rigorous state-developed plans, in exchange for flexibility in the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act.
Released on December 6, 2011, a report from the Advisory Commission on Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM) in Postsecondary Education for Students with Disabilities highlights problems and offers recommendations for enabling postsecondary students to obtain accessible materials.
According to a press release, the U.S. Department of Education, on December 1, 2011, released new regulations designed to expand student privacy for data held by third parties, while not hampering the ability of governments to determine the effectiveness of education investments.
The White House Internship Program gives young leaders an opportunity to visit the White House and receive mentorship, learn about the Executive Office and prepare for future public service opportunities.
The federal HealthCare.gov website has released a fact sheet (PDF) about the Affordable Healthcare Act, which is intended for people with disabilities. The website also has a Spanish version of the fact sheet (PDF en Español).
In a March 24, 2012 letter to superintendents, Arne Duncan, the U.S. Secretary of Education, recognized students of military families and encouraged superintendents to consider how their policies affect children of military parents, including those with disabilities.
Featured in Reference Points: Health and Transition Resources (Part 2), the U.S. Department of Education has released a 2011 report on disabilities and physical education, which looks at the problem of low physical activity among people with disabilities and suggests ways to increase the capacity of students with disabilities to participate in physical education and athletics programs.
Created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and mentioned in Reference Points: Health and Transition Resources (Part 2), HealthyPeople.gov's Adolescent Health looks at the health challenges faced by adolescents.
The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans offers reports and fact sheets about education for Hispanic Americans. In particular, the Initiative has developed a survey of education programs for Hispanic students (PDF). The survey details the programs' practices and the evidence for how effective they are.
The U.S. Department of Education's Clarification of Equal Access to Extracurricular Athletics - The Department's Office for Civil Rights has released a "Dear Colleague Letter" clarifying the responsibility of school districts to provide equal access (PDF) to athletic extracurricular activities for people with disabilities. A blog post from Arne Duncan also discusses the clarification.
IDEA Part B Regulations Covering Parental Consent - The U.S. Department of Education has released information to explain upcoming regulations, which will take effect on March 18, 2013. According to the Department of Education website, the regulations cover "parental consent for the use of public benefits or insurance (e.g., Medicaid) to pay for services under Part B of the IDEA."
President John F. Kennedy's Message to Congress about Mental Health - The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has highlighted a message, relayed in 1963, from former President John F. Kennedy, regarding the state of mental health in that time.
What Works Clearinghouse - An initiative of the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences, What Works Clearinghouse examines "the research on the different programs, products, practices, and policies in education."

Parent Education Network

Translate using Google Translate:

Follow Us:

PEN's Quarterly Newsletter

PEN Workshops, Webinars, Educational & Advocacy E-mail Alerts

Federal Disability Laws Policies and Initiatives