Our Publications

IDEA-Related Publications

Our nation's special education law is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This law is very important in the lives of children with disabilities. Under the law, early intervention services are provided to eligible infants and toddlers with disabilities, and special education and related services are made available to eligible school-aged children.

We are pleased to offer the following publications focused on the IDEA and the educational rights of children and youth with disabilities. Please be aware as you read, however, that the law has recently been reauthorized (December 2004) and that some changes have occurred. The publications below have not yet been revised to reflect those changes. To find out what has changed and what remains the same, we encourage you to visit NICHCY Connections to...Resources on IDEA 2004.

• General Information about Disabilities
• Questions Often Asked by Parents About Special Education Services
• Related Services
• Your Child’s Evaluation

General Information about Disabilities (GR3)

• Text only — GR 3
• PDF — GR 3
• En español — GR 3-Sp

Read the definitions of the 13 categories of disabilities under which a child with a disability may qualify for special education services under the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). 2002, 4 pages.

Questions Often Asked by Parents About Special Education Services (LG1)

• Text only — LG 1
• PDF — LG 1
• En español — LG 1-Sp

This publication explains in easy to read terms how students with disabilities access special education and related services. 1999, 12 pages.

Related Services (ND16)

• Text only — ND 16
• PDF — ND 16
• En español — ND 16-Sp

Children with disabilities who are eligible for special education may also receive related services according to their individual needs. This may include such services as occupational and physical therapy, speech language pathology, transportation, and special health care services. Learn more about the related services listed in IDEA and the process by which students can obtain them. 2001, 20 pages.

Your Child’s Evaluation (BP1)

• Text only — BP 1
• PDF — BP 1
• En español — BP 1-Sp

This publication describes the steps the school system will take to evaluate your child to determine if he or she has a disability and is eligible for special education. 1999, 4 pages.

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