When parents enroll their child in school, most would say they are doing it for their child to get a good education. Many may say they are also looking at the school as a place for their child to learn how to get along with others, learn to follow rules, and learn to socialize. In other words, most parents see schools as both a primary source of “book learning” and as a place where their child can develop other skills that will help prepare them for adulthood.
Parents of a child with a disability have a more complicated set of factors to consider when choosing a school for their child. The Kentucky Department of Education reported for the 2022-2023 school year that 1 in 6 Kentucky students (17.3%) have a disability. These disabilities can be one or a combination of: developmental, intellectual, sensory, mobility, learning, social, and/or emotional challenges. School is a place for education and skill development that must meet that student’s particular needs. Federal law – the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) – requires all public schools to do that. The student with a disability has a prescribed set of special services, accommodations, and protections spelled out in an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) or a 504 Plan which the public schools are required to implement. For these students, school provides an education that allows development of learning skills and achievement to the best of the student’s ability.