Resources & Materials

Laws Impacting Individuals with Disabilities

Clicking on the title of the laws listed below will take you to the website that directly addresses that law.

1. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 2004 (IDEA 2004)
   
   The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law ensuring services to children with disabilities throughout the nation. IDEA governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education, and related services to more than 6.5 million eligible infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities.
   1. 
      Part B of IDEA – for children ages 3 - 21
   2. 
      Part C of IDEA – for children ages birth - 2
   3. 
      Utah State Office of Education Rules and Regulations
      
      This document represents a revision of the previous State Board of Education Special Education Rules, adopted by the Board in September 2007. These Rules provide requirements to which local education agencies, state-operated programs (including local juvenile and adult correctional facilities and charter schools), and other public and private agencies providing publicly funded education and related services to students with disabilities must adhere. (Taken from the Introduction to the Rules.)
   4. 
      IDEA 2004 Key Issues at a Glance
      
      The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) - the main law that impacts services for students with disabilities - was recently reauthorized. We are currently in the process of updating our materials to reflect the changes that were made in the law. The reauthorization has also had an impact on Utah’s Special Education Rules. A draft of Utah’s rules was on July 20, 2007. As soon as the rules are completed, our information will also be updated to reflect the changes that will be made. In the meantime, the Utah State Office of Education and the Utah Parent Center have created a document that outlines key changes in the law.
      
      Click here to view “IDEA 2004 Key Issues At A Glance”.
2. 
   Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
   
   The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the law that eliminates discrimination against individuals with disabilities and provides clear, strong, consistent, enforceable standards addressing discrimination against individuals with disabilities.
3. 
   Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
   
   Section 504 protects persons from discrimination based upon their disability status. A person is disabled within the definition of Section 504 if he or she: has a mental or physical impairment which substantially limits one or mre of such person’s major life activities; has a record of such impairments; or is regarded as having such an impairment.
4. 
   Family Education Rights and Privacy Act
   
   The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974: guarantees you the right to inspect and review your child’s file; says that only people who need to see the file can see it; allows you to challenge information in the life you feel is inaccurate or misleading; and allows you to ask the school to remove something in the file that you disagree with.
5. 
   The Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Act of 1990
   
   Funds appropriated under this Act are awarded as grants to state education agencies based on a formula. This law is closely interwoven with IDEA toward guaranteeing full vocational education opportunity for youth with disabilities.