What is The IDEA?
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Federal Special Education Entitlement Grant provides funds to ensure that eligible students with disabilities receive a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). This includes special education and related services designed to meet their individual needs in the least restrictive environment.
The priorities of the IDEA are to:
- Ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them a free and appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living.
- Ensure that the rights of children with disabilities and their parents are protected.
- Assist states, localities, educational service agencies, and federal agencies to provide for the education of all children with disabilities.
- Assess and ensure the effectiveness of efforts to educate children with disabilities.
What type of conditions are covered?
The IDEA lists 13 different disability categories under which 3-to-21-year-olds are eligible.
These categories include:
- Autism
- Deafness
- Emotional Disturbance
- Hearing Impairment
- Intellectual Disability
- Multiple Disabilities
- Orthopedic impairment
- other health impairment
- specific learning disability
- speech or language impairment
- traumatic brain injury
- visual impairment (including blindness)
How can the ReaderPen positively impact the academic achievement for these students?
Students with the conditions above can benefit from our solutions. Using the ReaderPen and the LingoPen leads to inclusivity, equity, and better study habits/practices— especially outside the classroom. Including the ReaderPen and the LingoPen in the learning toolbox bridges equity gaps.
The ReaderPen will:
- Provide access to curriculum for students who would otherwise be passed over.
- Build independence and promote self-confidence.
- Supports emotional wellbeing while inspiring a love of reading that will lead to closing achievement gaps between students in general education and those served by the special education department.
- Raise engagement and inclusivity while improving literacy outcomes.