Given the disproportionate rates of youth with disabilities who experience exclusionary discipline in schools, it is important to consider the involvement of law enforcement officers in the discipline of these students and the students' right to an equitable education. One recent case of concern was Wilson v. City of Southlake, which clarified…

The U.S. Supreme Court has heard several cases regarding special education. These cases have resulted in decisions that have addressed issues involving special education programming and procedural issues. On March 21, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling in "Perez v. Sturgis Public Schools." This decision, which was the…

Section 1983 of the Civil Rights Act of 1871 has been increasingly utilized as a legal avenue by U.S. students with disabilities, particularly concerning remedies not typically awarded under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The purpose of this legal update is to briefly highlight recent case law in which guardians filed action in…

As of the 2013-2014 school year, about 2.5 million school-age students attended charter schools nationwide. Because charter schools are publicly funded entities, they are required to adhere to all federal nondiscriminatory laws as well as the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act. This legal brief provides an overview of charter schools,…

Title II of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 requires that state and local agencies refrain from the discrimination of individuals with disabilities by providing them with services in the most integrated setting appropriate. Despite this mandate, state and local education agencies across the country engage in practices that could be…

Federal legislation, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504, and the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, mandates that individuals with disabilities be integrated in all aspects of life from education to employment to independent living. A recent development involves a settlement reached between the United States and the…

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 has become an increasingly important mechanism in providing services to students with disabilities in public schools. Because Section 504 is a civil rights law, responsibility for its implementation involves a range of school-based professionals, including administrators, general education teachers,…

This overview of the requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 offers guidelines for schools to ensure compliance. Sections address eligibility for Section 504 services and protections, individuals covered under Section 504, requirements of Section 504, services in public schools, and school requirements for Section 504.…

Discusses the reauthorization of the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act, and the addition of a protection and advocacy component to ensure the legal rights of people to have access to assistive technology. The benefits of protection and advocacy systems are presented in a question-and-answer format. (CR)

This article reviews employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and concludes that, to take advantage of the law's provisions, youth with learning disabilities who are making the transition from school to employment need to be prepared in the areas of self-knowledge, knowledge of specific jobs, and self-advocacy. (DB)