Laws and Legislation
There are many laws that protect the civil rights of individuals with disabilities and provide guidance and procedural remedy. These laws originate at the federal level with some of them informing the basis for additional state law. For example, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law. Article 7 is Indiana's set of rules that mirror and extend what is written in IDEA.
Here is an OVERVIEW of the most relevant laws from the Indiana Department of Education.
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2004
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) is a federal law that guarantees all eligible children with disabilities between the ages of 3 and 21 (or until the child graduates) the right to a free appropriate public education designed to meet their individual needs.
SECTION 504
- Protecting Students with Disabilities: FAQ About Section 504
- USDOE Guidance on Civil Rights of Students with Disabilities
- Fact Sheet: Restraint and Seclusion of Students with Disabilities
- Dear Colleague Letter: 504 & Guide on Students with ADHD
- Dear Colleague: Restraint & Seclusion of Students with Disabilities
FERPA
REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is a sub-agency of the U.S. Department of Education that is primarily focused on protecting civil rights in federally assisted education programs and prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual identity, handicap, age, or membership in patriotic youth organizations.