Differences between the rights and requirements of IDEA in the P-12 classroom and the rights and responsibilities under ADA in higher education

It is important to point out that IDEA is not effective in higher education (college).  College is not a right and therefore, no one is entitled to college.  In P-12 education, IDEA outlines IEP’s and assistive technology in the classroom.  In college, it is the ADA that outlines the protection of people with disabilities and their use of reasonable accomodations in higher education.  The responsibility of a student receiving accomodations now falls on the student in college.

Here is a chart comparing some of the differences between IDEA and the ADA:













 Dell, A; Newton, G and Petroff, J. (2012). Assistive Technology in the Classroom: Enhancing the School Experience of Students with Disabilities. Pearson Education.