This brief article addresses the question of whether the Individuals with Disabilities Act or Section 504 and its sister statute, the Americans with Disabilities Act, provides for the liability of special educators and other public school personnel for money damages. The analysis synthesizes the applicable case law under these federal disability…

Among the most critical pre-pandemic inequities that have not received sufficient attention is the fact that many districts are not meeting their legal and moral obligation to educate students with disabilities, which must include providing needed mental health services, behavioral supports and educationally sound interventions by well qualified…

As the focus on bullying has grown, attention to incidents of and concern about sexual harassment has diminished. It is easy to understand that sexual harassment can be a form of bullying, especially when it is used to intimidate, but it is also a form of discrimination prohibited by federal and state laws. Effective implementation and enforcement…

This issue of "Policy and Practice" offers counselors and student affairs professionals strategies to effectively support the mental health needs of today's students. Students require transparent, connected, and flexible systems that meet the full range of mental health needs. To achieve such systems, institutions must have a robust…

Among the most critical pre-pandemic inequities that have not received sufficient attention is the fact that many districts are not meeting their legal and moral obligation to educate students with disabilities, which must include providing needed mental health services, behavioral supports and educationally sound interventions by well qualified…

The purpose of the National AEM Center's Quality Indicators with Critical Components for Higher Education is to assist institutes of higher education, both at the system and campus level, with planning, implementing, and evaluating dynamic, coordinated systems for providing accessible materials and technologies for all students who need them. The…

Many preservice secondary teachers feel well prepared by their teacher preparation programs to teach their content area. However, these same preservice teachers overwhelmingly indicated that more instruction in serving students with special needs-modifications, management techniques, paperwork and educational terms-was warranted. They understand…

Strong mental and behavioral health supports on campus can improve the academic performance of students and increase their resilience and ability to handle stress, with reduced suicide rates, substance abuse, and eating disorders, but this study reveals that students with mental health disabilities continue to face barriers to accessing counseling…

Postsecondary education is a realistic and necessary option for successful adult outcomes. An understanding of the realities in postsecondary education is necessary if students with disabilities and their families are to be prepared to make wise choices for successful transition. School personnel should use the high school years to implement…

Although federal U.S. regulations require schools to provide equal access to educational opportunities for all students, many technologies used in K-12 schools present accessibility barriers for students with disabilities. Interviews assessed knowledge of educational department staff, teachers, and parents of children in K-12 schools in the…

The cornerstones of special education law are the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). One of the main purposes of these acts was to provide a national mandate to eliminate discrimination against disabled students in the workforce and in an…

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) effectively extends the protection of section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act to individuals with disabilities throughout society. Some lawsuits brought by public employees have alleged discrimination under both section 504 and ADA. (49 footnotes) (MLF)

Reviews issues related to disclosure of disability and disability-related needs by students in postsecondary education. Discusses research, benefits, concerns, and attitudes related to disclosure. Provides counseling and systems change strategies to enhance the disclosure and self-advocacy skills of students with disabilities. (FC)

Discusses the application of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as a legal theory available to an employee of a public school system who faces isolation, transfer, suspension, or termination because of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Addresses AIDS in the workplace and the law. (MLF)

Focuses on the operational meanings of the following terms--"handicapped individual,""otherwise qualified,""reasonable accommodation," and "essential functions of the job"--as developed primarily in federal court decisions concerned with employment issues associated with handicapped persons in public…