If your child has a disablility it is very important that you know what IDEA is. IDEA is an acronym for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. IDEA is a United States federal law that determines how children recieve early intervention, special education, and other services. The law was established for children aged birth to twenty-one.
If your child has a disability they may be eligable for help under the program. However, there are requirements to be accepted under the law. Looking at the conditions for which your child can be accepted is a good idea. If your child is considered eligable then they can be considered for individualized educational programs. The individualized educational programs determine what and how often your child needs certain services. The program is determined by what your child is capable of doing at the time, how your child’s disability effects their academic performances, and what they will need in the future.
In addition to being accepted into the program, your child is assigned a team that inlcudes educators as well as you, and a plan is put together to help your child learn to the best of their ability and reach certain goals. The goals are created with your child’s potential in mind. The goals are designed to help educate your child in a school enviroment. In addition to school related services other services are provided like speech therepy and pyschological services, as well as physical and occupational therapy.
IDEA is a great program that has been developed to help children with disabilities from the time they are born until they have reached adulthood. The services that the programs offer are so much more than support and education. It is very easy to determine if you child will qualify for the program and the benefits are endless.