Students Benefit from IDEA
On October 5, 2000, OSERS celebrated the passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), with a symposium, co-sponsored by the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD).
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Former Secretary of Education Richard Riley speaking to participants at a Capitol Hill reception celebrating 25 years of IDEA accomplishments. |
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At the symposium were (top, left to right) Frank Holleman, former Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Education; Kenneth Warlick, former Director, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), U.S. Department of Education; (bottom, left to right) Matt Renfro, Katherine Maunder, Lindsay Miles, and Michael Williams. |
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Meet the
Students | |
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 Matt Renfro,
Manassas, VA (center), describes his school life and interests and
how IDEA educational services help support him in an inclusive
setting. Sitting with him are his teacher, Katherine Black ,
Stonewall Jackson High School, Manassas, VA (left), and Michael
Williams, Phoenix, AZ (right). |
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Michael Williams, Phoenix AZ, demonstrated at the Symposium, a PowerPoint presentation that he developed for his IEP (individualized education program) meeting. Michael Williams is standing with Patricia Guard, Deputy Director, OSEP. |
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Katherine Maunder, Philadelphia, PA, discusses how much she loves school and how she benefits from assistive technology daily. |
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Lindsay Miles, Alexandria, VA (center) shares her IDEA story, her current inclusive school setting, and her dreams for the future. |
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Indian Treaty Room, Old Executive Office Building
Washington, DC
November 29, 2000
Danielle Bustos
Introducing former Secretary of Education Richard Riley.
Danielle Bustos is an 8-year-old third grader at
Forest Knolls Elementary School in Silver Spring, Maryland. She lives with
her mother and father, Jackie and Danilo. Danielle speaks both English and
Spanish and is in a fully integrated program at Forest Knolls. Just like
many other young people her age, Danielle loves music and is especially
fond of the Back Street Boys, Ricky Martin, and Brittany Spears.
"Hello, everyone. I was invited here tonight because I want to tell you how good my school is to me. I get the chance to be in my class with my friends, some of them have disabilities, some of them don’t, but we all have a lot of fun together.
Some of the things that make my school better for me are: when my teacher explains multiplication clearly. Also, when my special ed. assistant re-reads the questions, and helps me to count out, or to break down the problems. She also helps me to catch up with my writing.
My classroom is really big, so there is enough space for me to ride my wheelchair without hitting desks around me. Other days, I practice my walking in physical therapy, and I have a special desk with a slanted board. It helps me write better.
My message for all kids in America is to work hard and don’t ever give up. Always let your teacher know, when you need something, do not be shy. I wish all of you have a great school like mine.
I am happy to introduce Secretary Riley. Because of Secretary Riley’s fight for kids with disabilities, I am able to go to school and participate in all the activities my friends do. I do not know what Secretary Riley does, but I know that he has helped me to have the opportunity to be just one of the gang.
Ladies and Gentlemen: Secretary Richard Riley."
After more than a quarter of a century of the IDEA’s implementation, we can now celebrate the millions of people who have enjoyed access to the services and the education that leads to high-quality lives. The following stories were prepared by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC).
- Rose has limited use of her
hands because of cerebral palsy and uses a motorized wheelchair to get
around. She uses a computer and a word-prediction program to help her
complete her written assignments on time. The word-prediction program
came directly from research conducted by IDEA-sponsored projects.
- Hector attends his neighborhood
school in Arizona. He was once viewed as a disruptive student, until he
participated in a new behavioral program that taught him how to express
and better control his emotions. And in one year’s time his behavior
dramatically changed. Today he looks forward to a bright future in
second grade.
- Kyle is using assistive
technology to help him write. Kyle talks into a microphone while the
computer puts the text on the screen for him. Kyle tells the computer
where to place punctuation marks, new paragraphs, and more. Just a
couple of months ago Kyle couldn’t finish two paragraphs of a writing
assignment in half an hour. Now he is enthusiastic about his
assignments.
- Katie is a college freshman who
gradually became blind over a ten year period. In middle school,
Katie’s school district assigned her an assistant, and, with funds
received under IDEA, provided Katie with academic technological support
equipment such as texts-on-tape, a talking calculator, Braille ‘n Speak,
Type ‘n Speak and a Braille printer. In 1999 she graduated high school
with honors, 31st in her class of 600. And today she is a freshman
at the State University of New York at Oneonta. Katie’s mother says that
each student’s success depends on a team effort between a child, their
parents(s) and the school. With all the puzzle pieces in place,
IDEA works well.
- Kasey is eight years old and has cerebral palsy. She lives in Arkansas and attends a regular third grade classroom. Kasey has a full-time aide. Money from IDEA helps Kasey communicate with her augmentative communication device (a liberator), and complete her assignments on a laptop. Kasey loves to travel and has presented at many conferences all over the United States on the importance and literacy and early intervention with students with disabilities.