50 Things to Love

Children’s rights can be addressed with the passage of laws. This year marks the 50th anniversary of landmark legislation in America for children with exceptionalities. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was passed in 1975 to protect children with delays/disabilities in USA. Here are 50 things to love about IDEA.

Photo credit: Gail Kulp

  1. Abilities

  2. Access

  3. Advocacy

  4. Authentic assessment

  5. Child Find

  6. Community

  7. Consent from parents

  8. Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)

  9. Curriculum

  10. Curriculum-based assessment

  11. Developmental delay

  12. Developmental screening

  13. Division for Early Childhood of CEC

  14. Early Childhood Special Education (IDEA Part B, 619; three to six)

  15. Early identification

  16. Early Intervention (IDEA Part C; birth to three)

  17. Eligibility determination

  18. Extended school year

  19. Fair assessment

  20. Family priorities

  21. Family services

  22. Free and appropriate public education

  23. Goals and objectives that are individualized

  24. Inclusion of students with disabilities in places with their peers

  25. Individualized Education Plan (IEP for children ages 3-21)

  26. Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP for infants and toddlers)

  27. Inclusion in general education program(s)

  28. Instruction

  29. Intervention

  30. Lead agency

  31. Least restrictive environment

  32. Participation

  33. Peers

  34. Person centered planning

  35. Play

  36. Policies

  37. Positive behavioral supports

  38. Procedural safeguards

  39. Public Law P.L. 94-142

  40. Recreation and leisure

  41. Referral

  42. Related specialists

  43. Rights for children

  44. Siblings

  45. Strengths based approach

  46. Teachers

  47. Teams

  48. Transdisciplinary model

  49. Transition

  50. Workforce