The Unintended Consequences of IDEA
By Aaron Wright
It is undeniable that the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) has aided educational access for autistic children. Prior to the first iteration of the law, children with disabilities did not necessarily have the right to a public education.
However, an unforeseen side effect of the IDEA’s deficit-oriented focus upon disability has created a dilemma for parents of autistic children and has fostered a problem-oriented societal approach to autistic people in general.
My daughter and Max Benson (#ShineOnMax) entered the public school system in Davis, California, at the same time as schoolmates. For our families, and families like ours, kindergarten was the next step on an already-established path of parental advocacy.
Enrolling a child in special education is not the same as signing someone up for T‑ball or a recreational soccer team. And it is certainly not the same as approaching your pediatrician for help with your infant or toddler who is displaying developmental delays.
It is often a tall order to obtain educational services for your child from an entity solely CONTINUE READING: The Unintended Consequences of IDEA
