Glossary of Important Terms
504 Plan
When a student does not require specific educational services related to his/her
disability, a student might still require accommodations in order to participate
in classes or other school activities. These accommodations would be addressed
in a 504 Plan that is mandated through Section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act.
Accommodations and Adaptive Equipment
These terms refer to a variety of programmatic or physical changes that may
be required for a person with a disability to fully participate in a school,
work, home or community setting. One example is that a school or place of employment
would provide a wheelchair accessible restroom for a student or employee with
a mobility impairment. Another example is that a student with a learning disability
would be provided with extended time on tests or alternate testing formats
such as having the test read aloud.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
A national disability civil rights law enacted in 1990 that addresses the rights
of people with disabilities in the areas of employment, public accommodations,
government services, and communication access.
Conservatorship
Under conservatorship, a person is not considered to be legally incompetent.
A person who is assigned as a conservator or limited guardian for another individual
has been assigned limited decision-making responsibility depending on the needs
of the individual. The limited guardian may only have responsibility for healthcare,
financial, education or other specific rights. The individual retains all other
rights not specifically assigned by the court to the conservator.
Guardianship
Under guardianship, a person is considered to be legally incompetent. When
a guardianship is in place, the individual loses the authority to make all
the decisions granted to adults. A person called a guardian is assigned by
a legal court process to make these decisions. In some states, a partial guardianship
option is available. It may be called conservatorship or limited guardianship.
With guardianship and conservatorship, documents must be filed with a court
explaining why a person needs this arrangement. A court hearing must occur
and annual reports on the status of the guardianship or conservatorship must
be filed with the court.
Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
This is the federal law that authorizes special education services. Included
as part of this law are the requirements that all eligible students have
an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and all eligible students have
a Transition Plan in place on or before their 16th birthday.
Individualized Education Program (IEP)
The IEP is a document that describes the student’s educational goals
and the special education programs or services that the school provides in
order to assist the student in meeting his/her goals.
Transfer of Rights at Age of Majority
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) gives states the authority
to transfer educational decision-making rights to students at the age of majority.
In states that do transfer educational decision-making rights at the age of
majority, parents and students must be given notice of this transfer at least
one year before a student reaches age of majority. In addition, this notice
must be included in the student’s IEP.
In most states, the age of majority is 18, but there are exceptions. Some states have chosen not to transfer IDEA decision-making rights from parents to students. Whether or not IDEA rights transfer from parent to student, there may be other “general education” related education rights that do not transfer. It is important to know your state’s laws.
Transition Plan
All students who receive special education services under IDEA must have
a Transition Plan as part of their IEP on or before their 16th birthday.
The Transition Plan addresses
the student’s specific goals related to completing high school and preparing
for post-secondary education, vocational training, or immediate employment.
Non-academic issues such as managing personal finances, using public or private
transportation, and other related life skills would be addressed in a Transition
Plan.
Downloadable Glossary (Adobe Acrobat Document): glossary.pdf
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Last updated:
02/08/2005