JOURNAL ARTICLE

The Americans with Disabilities Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: Intersection, Divergence, and the Path Forward.

  • Published In: Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 2023, v. 34, n. 3. P. 224 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: West, Jane E.; McLaughlin, Virginia L.; Shepherd, Katharine G.; Cokley, Rebecca 3 of 3

Abstract

This article examines the interplay between the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in shaping special education policy and practice over several decades. It highlights how ADA's civil rights framework emphasizing nondiscrimination and inclusion has influenced IDEA's evolution from ensuring access to focusing on postsecondary outcomes and systemic supports for students with disabilities. The article discusses ongoing tensions arising from changing school demographics, standards-based educational reforms, and disability rights activism, noting challenges such as segregation, labeling, and inequities in services and outcomes. It concludes with recommendations to deepen collaboration between special education and disability rights communities, incorporate the voices of individuals with disabilities, engage federal advisory agencies, and learn from international inclusive education practices to advance a more equitable and inclusive educational system.

Additional Information

  • Source:Journal of Disability Policy Studies. 2023/12, Vol. 34, Issue 3, p224
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Law
  • Publication Date:2023
  • ISSN:1044-2073
  • DOI:10.1177/10442073221114113
  • Accession Number:173702180
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Journal of Disability Policy Studies is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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