ADA Assistance Case Study

(a) Do you think all individuals with psychologically based disabilities should be eligible for ADA assistance?
Yes, I think that all individuals with psychological based disabilities should be eligible for ADA assistance. If a child has any kind of disability that prevents them from receiving the best education that they can personally achieve then they should qualify for assistance. It would be unfair if a child with a psychological disability was denied the right to the education that they deserve.
(b) If the federal government mandates special education for all children, commits itself to funding 40% of the cost but continues to renege on the full funding, should school districts be forced to fully IDEA? (Note: The federal government committed itself to providing 40% of the cost of special education programming when it mandated a free and appropriate education for all children with disabilities in 1975. To date the funding has not exceeded 20%).
School districts should be fully IDEA.
However, with the lack of funding from the government it is nearly impossible for school districts to provide what they need for the students who need special assistance. Therefore, it should be not be forced upon schools to be fully IDEA until the government provides what it has promised to the programs.
(c) What factors should be considered when thinking about the least restrictive environment for a particular student with special
needs?
If an environment for special needs children is to be as least restrictive as possible then it needs to be a safe environment filled with encouragement and patience. Students should be aware that the child has special needs, that way they can learn and grow with their peers. Without a safe environment with a very aware teacher, the child with special needs can be subject to bullying and harassment.
(d) What specific concerns may exist that compel many people to view special education as too costly, burdensome, and ineffective?
Concerns that people have in regards to children with special education needs include the cost and time that it takes for teachers to become educated on special needs for these children and also where these students will be placed in schools and if they will affect the education of other students around them. Many people who view education as costly consider the fact that teachers have to be educated in the mannerisms that they will be working with and how to efficiently teach these children with special needs. Another concern is whether or not these students will “slow down” the students around them. This concern comes from uneducated people who do not typically consider special needs children as anything but a burden in the classroom. However, having a special needs child in a classroom can actually encourage children to become more aware of society and the differences and similarities between all kinds of people.