How IDEA components impacted you!

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Kelli Schlimgen

Components of IDEA:
Explain how the components of IDEA have impacted the American education system, educators roles
within that system, and the lives of individuals with disabilities.

IDEA:
How IDEA components impacted you!

Kelli Schlimgen

Special Education 100, Dakota State University

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Kelli Schlimgen

Many individuals with disabilities have gotten the best education they can because of
IDEA. Having an American education system and educators that are knowledgeable about IDEA
has helped to make it successful. Not only does Idea give children with disabilities a better
education but I believe it helps the entire class. The IDEA six components that have changed
American Education are; zero reject, nondiscriminatory identification and evaluation, free
appropriate public education, least restrictive environment, due process safeguards, Parent and
student participation and shared decision making.

In the American education system we embrace all the components of IDEA. The first
component that has impacted the lives of individuals with disabilities is the zero reject. This
means that schools must educate all children with disabilities. This principle applies regardless of
the nature of severity of the disability; no child with disabilities may be excluded from a free
public education. (Heward 2009, pg.19) From birth to age 21, each states education agency is
responsible for locating, identifying and evaluating them. It would be beneficial to both the
educator and the student if the educator knew at the beginning of the school year that the student
had a disability.
This next component is called nondiscriminatory identification and evaluation. This
means that the schools must use nonbiased, multifactored methods of evaluation to determine
whether a child has a disability and if so whether the child needs special education. (Heward
2009, pg.19) All tests must be administered in the childs native language, and identification and
placement decisions cannot be made on the basis of a single test score. These provisions of IDEA
are known as protection in evaluation procedures. (Heward 2009, pg.19) This component is so

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Kelli Schlimgen
that it is fair to all children that speak different languages. I feel that this is one of the best
qualities in the American education system. It is also good that the decision is not based on one
single test score because most children do struggle in one area.

Thirdly is the free appropriate public education. This means that all children with
disabilities, regardless of the type or severity of their disability, shall receive a free appropriate
public education. This education must be provided at public expense. An individualized
education program must be developed and implemented to meet the unique needs of each student
with a disability. (Heward 2009, pg.19) This has helped many families that dont have the
financial assistance to take their child to a private school because their child has a disability.

The fourth IDEA component is the least restrictive environment. This means that IDEA
mandates that students with disabilities be educated with children without disabilities to the
maximum extent appropriate. I t also means that students with disabilities be removed to
separate classes or schools only when the nature of severity of their disabilities is such that they
cannot receive an appropriate education in a general education classroom with supplementary
aids and services. (Heward 2009, pg. 19, 22) This component is a great thing for students with
disabilities because then they get to have a good mix of classroom learning time and individual
learning time. Most parents want their child to be in a regular classroom as much as they can so
their child can make friends, learn, and play with their classmates.

The fifth component of IDEA is due process safeguards. This is when the schools must
provide due process safeguards to protect the rights of children with disabilities and their parents.

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Kelli Schlimgen
Schools must maintain the confidentiality of all records pertaining to a child with disabilities and
make those records available to the parents. When parents of a child with disabilities disagree
with the results of an evaluation performed by the school, they can obtain an independent
evaluation at public expense. (Heward 2009, pg. 22) This is important to the school system
because it protects the rights of the children with disabilities and their parents. As a child with a
disability or a parent I would feel good about the confidentiality of their records.

Last component of IDEA is Parent and student participation and shared decision making.
This means that schools must collaborate with parents and students with disabilities in the
planning and implementation of special education and related services. The parents input and
wishes must be concerned in determining IEP goals, related service needs, and placement
decisions. (Heward 2009, pg. 22) This is another important component because the decision
making is shared between the parents and the school. They have to agree on an individualized
program for the student with special needs.

Each of the components of IDEA; zero reject, nondiscriminatory identification and

evaluation, free appropriate public education, least restrictive environment, due process
safeguards, and parent and student participation and shared decision making, helps a certain
aspect of American education system. Every parent wants their child to get the best education
they can while they are in school. I believe that IDEA has helped the American education system
and educators do this for our individuals with disabilities. Today educators and individuals with
disabilities are better off with the IDEA components than they were in the past.

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Kelli Schlimgen
Heward, William L. Exceptional Children: An Introduction to Special Education. Upper Saddle
River, New Jersey: Pearson Merrill Prentice Hall, 2009.