The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is the federal law that ensures students with disabilities receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE) designed to meet their unique needs. Originally passed in 1975 as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, IDEA has been reauthorized several times.
Key IDEA Principles
IDEA establishes six core principles: Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), appropriate evaluation, Individualized Education Program (IEP), Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), parent and student participation, and procedural safeguards. These principles guide how schools identify and serve students with disabilities.
Disability Categories Under IDEA
IDEA recognizes 13 disability categories: autism, deaf-blindness, deafness, emotional disturbance, hearing impairment, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, and visual impairment.