The+Laws

= Federal and State Regulations = toc =__The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504__=

**Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973"**
 * "No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States . . . shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance . . . **


 * This law is an extension of the national civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of a person's disabilities. This is required of any program that receive Federal financial assistance.

Eligibility of 504 Status Includes...
Children with disabilities may be eligible for special education and related services under Section 504 because of its broad definition of "disability".

To be protected a student must be determined to:
 * have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; //or//
 * have a record of such an impairment; //or//
 * be regarded as having such an impairment.

Section 504 requires that school districts provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to qualified students in their jurisdictions who have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability. Under Section 504, FAPE means providing regular or special education and related aids and services designed to meet the student’s individual educational needs as adequately as the needs of nondisabled students are met.

=__Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (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."** []  

Eligibility of IDEA Includes...

 * IDEA Section 602 **

(3) Child with a disability--

(A) In general--The term 'child with a disability' means a child- (i)with mental retardation, hearing impairments (including deafness), speech or language impairments, visual impairments (including blindness), serious emotional disturbance, orthopedic impairments, autism, traumatic brain injury, other health impairment, or specific learning disabilities: and

(ii) who, by reason thereof, needs a special education and related services.

=__IDEA as Related to Assistive Technology and UDL__=

__Assistive Technology__

 * Section 602 (1) **
 * (A) Assistive Technology Device-- **

In general.--The term 'assistive technology device' means any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of a child with a disability.


 * (B) Exception.-- **

The term does not include a medical device that is surgically implanted, or the replacement of such device.

__Universal Design for Learning__
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a set of principles for designing curriculum that provides all individuals, including those with learning differences, with equal opportunities to learn. UDL principles call for varied and flexible ways to:
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Present or access information, concepts, and ideas (the "what" of learning)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Plan and execute learning tasks (the "how" of learning)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Get engaged - and stay engaged - in learning

=__[|Universal Design for Learning and Assitive Technology]__=

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Building accessibility into new technologies and curricular materials as they are developed will help to ensure the maximal inclusion of children with disabilities into the full array of learning opportunities that are available to all children.

__No Child Left Behind (NCLB)__

<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: Verdana,Trebuchet,Arial; font-size: 12px;">The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, Public Law (PL) 107-110, is the nation’s latest general education law. It amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and has brought sweeping changes to our educational sys

<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: Verdana,Trebuchet,Arial; font-size: 12px;"> tems. What does the law require, what does it change about education, how are states responding, and what does the law mean for children with disabilities? =__Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)__= <span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: Verdana,Trebuchet,Arial; font-size: 12px;">Passed by the Congress and signed into law by the President in July 1990, the ADA is the first comprehensive declaration of equality for people with disabilities. The ADA protects the civil rights of people with disabilities in all aspects of employment, in accessing public services such as transportation, and guaranteeing access to public accommodations such as restaurants, stores, hotels and other types of buildings to which the public has access.

=__Assistive Technology Act__= <span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: Verdana,Trebuchet,Arial; font-size: 12px;">Assistive technology can greatly improve the access and function of people with disabilities in school, work, home, and community. The Assistive Technology Act is intended to ensure that people with disabilities have access to assistive technology devices and services. Find your state’s AT program!

=__State Regulations:__=


 * There has not been a formal bill passed in the state of Pennsylvania as of yet. It was included in the Race to the Top grant application in regard to assessment.
 * It is also listed under //Resources for Administrators// on the Pennsylvania Department of Education website.