National Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Awareness Month is a time to recognize the strengths, talents, and contributions of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It is also an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of inclusive and accessible education for all students. For students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the right support can make the difference between simply being present in a classroom and having a genuine opportunity to learn, participate, and succeed. When educational environments are designed to meet students where they are, every student is better positioned to reach their full potential.
Families of children with disabilities often spend years advocating for the services and accommodations their children need to access an equitable education. Supports such as speech and language therapy, occupational and physical therapy, and applied behavioral analysis help promote positive educational outcomes and are outlined in individualized education programs (IEPs) and 504 Plans. These formal school plans are designed to support students with disabilities and ensure they have equal access to education.
Currently, when parents choose to enroll their child in a private school, they must waive their child’s right to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). As a result, the services and accommodations in a child’s educational plan are no longer guaranteed, and families are often left without clear information about what support will actually be provided. Many parents have contacted my office after learning that when their child moves to a private school, they may no longer receive services such as speech and language therapy. Instead, they are told to seek these supports through their medical insurance. This often leads to significant frustration, as many families say they would not have transitioned their child to a new environment had they known the necessary support services would no longer be available. My bill addresses this gap by requiring private schools to clearly disclose which services, accommodations, and modifications they will offer based on a child’s existing educational plan. This bill is a simple consumer protection for parents. Parents deserve to have all of the information they need when it comes to making a decision about their child’s education.
As a former ESE teacher and assistant principal, I have seen how critical transparency is for families making educational decisions. HB 579 is about empowering parents with information, respecting the work they have already done to support their children, and ensuring students with disabilities continue to have access to the tools they need to succeed. Awareness matters, but so does action.
