Updated February 27, 2026 Every child with a disability deserves the chance to learn, belong, and thrive in school. The federal special education law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), guarantees a free, appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities. To be eligible, a child must have a disability and need specialized instruction […]
https://thearc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Special-Education-375x400-1.jpg400376Jackie Dilworth/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/ArcLogo_Color_Rev_PNG_WEB.pngJackie Dilworth2026-02-06 12:41:102026-04-09 15:21:02IEP Rights Explained: What Every Parent and Educator Should Know
Barbara’s son Jake is a medically complex young adult living at home with his parents. Jake relies on Medicaid to provide the services he needs to be medically safe and supported at home, including ...
Cassie is a mother, former educator, and co-founder of Michigan Advocates to End Seclusion and Restraint (EndSaR). She is a passionate advocate against the use of seclusion and restraint in schools, f...
When her seven-year-old son was in first grade, Michigan mom Amanda got an unexpected call from the new school principal. Her son, who has autism, had kicked the principal, and Amanda was being asked ...
Written by: Terri, a Massachusetts mom to a son with Down syndrome
Fifteen years ago, within days of being born, we learned that our son had Down syndrome. This sent us into a flurry of information...
Written by: Bob, a New Jersey dad to two daughters with developmental disabilities
Medicaid saved my daughters’ lives, and I am eternally grateful for it.
Annika and Maya were born 19 years ag...
For 33 years, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has protected the civil rights of people with disabilities.
We recently talked to disability rights lawyer Sean Pevsner about why the ADA mat...
“It’s like a tornado has devastated us. But no one is coming to help.”
By Grace from New York
I have twin sons who have autism spectrum disorder and intellectual and developmental disabiliti...
There has never been a more influential and monumental moment in disability rights than when the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) passed in 1990. This legislation transformed the lives of million...
As parents of adult children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) grow older, they may face concerns about what their child's life will look like when they are no longer able to prov...
