IDEA: entitles eligible students to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) with an IEP

Section 504: prohibits disability discrimination; provides accommodations via a 504 plan

ADA Title II: accessibility obligations for public entities, including school websites and materials

Least Restrictive Environment (LRE): educate with non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate

Child Find: districts must identify and evaluate students suspected of having a disability

Submit the evaluation request in writing and keep a dated copy

Consent starts the clock — commonly 60 days to complete, but check your state

Evaluation must cover all areas of suspected disability, at no cost to you

Disagree with the results? You may request an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE)

Private neuropsychological evaluations typically run $3,000–$7,000

Present levels must describe current performance with data, not adjectives

Every goal must be measurable, with a baseline and a method of measurement

Services must state minutes, frequency, setting, and provider

Accommodations must be specific enough for a substitute teacher to follow

Assistive technology and AEM must be considered for every student, by law

Transition planning starts by age 16 (earlier in many states)

AEM means the same content in a format the student can actually use

Formats: braille, large print, audio, tactile graphics, and accessible digital text

Sources: Bookshare, Learning Ally, APH, and your state's AEM center

Digital text must be tagged and screen-reader compatible — scanned PDFs are not accessible

Free national guidance: the AEM Center at aem.cast.org

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) reduces the need for retrofitting

Public-school evaluations and IEP services are free to families

Private therapy may be covered by health insurance or Medicaid

Some states offer special-needs scholarships or ESAs for private placement

District-funded placement is possible when the public school cannot provide FAPE

Track every out-of-pocket cost — some are deductible medical expenses

Ask for Prior Written Notice documenting any refusal and its rationale

Request a facilitated IEP meeting — the lowest-conflict next step

State mediation is free and voluntary

A state complaint investigates procedural violations, typically within 60 days

Due process is the formal hearing route; consider a special-education attorney

Your state Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) offers free help