Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA):
A federal law outlining the responsibilities of public schools (K-12) in regards to providing an appropriate education to students with disabilities. High schools are required under IDEA to identify the education needs of students with a disability and provide a free and appropriate education.
That law, along with its numerous re-authorizations, reflects the nation's commitment to educating all its children, whether they have disabilities or not. Fundamentally, 94-142 and its successors (including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990 and IDEA Improvement Act of 2004) said that public schools, with parental input and appropriate assessments, would determine what was most appropriate for a child's education. They were required to provide that education.
Once an individual has reached their majority under the law, and the rules change. The principles of 94-142 and IDEA, including the required IEP (Individualized Education Program), no longer apply. Note: 504 Plans, under which many students are now served in high schools, are no longer valid either.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
In 1990, Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act. Modeled on section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, ADA is a civil rights law. It prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability, as long as the person is otherwise qualified. In the case of publicly funded colleges and universities, ADA affirms the right of a student with a disability to a level playing field.
That means that a college or a university must ensure equal access to all students who are otherwise qualified. Access means more than ramps and elevators and wide parking spaces. It also means access to information and to technology. Therefore, colleges and universities must make reasonable accommodations for a student's disability, so a student may be able to demonstrate their ability.
However, civil rights laws and the reasonable accommodations they call for are in no way intended — nor are they able to guarantee success. At most, a student can expect a more equal chance to do the same work as their peers.
