Case Study 1

Education of Students with Disabilities

Giovanna Torres
EDU 210
College of Southern Nevada

Case Study 2

Education of Students with Disabilities

Debbie Young is an experienced high school principle who served as a special education
teacher and an assistant principle in a liberal, wealthy school district. Principle Young, was
approached by the parents of Jonathan, who is a severely disabled tenth grader, to have him
attend one of the schools in the district. Jonathans disabilities require constant care by a
qualified nurse. He suffers from being mentally disabled, having spastic quadriplegia, and has
recurring seizures. Principle Young denied the parents demand because she felt it was an
astonishing expense, and she didnt think that the school was a suitable place for Jonathan.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, is an act that addresses the right to
students with disabilities. It applies to children ages 3-21, from preschool to vocational
education. In order to qualify for IDEA, and receive services, the individuals disability has to
affect their learning in some way, which Jonathan clearly has. The IDEA believes in the right to
a free and appropriate education without discrimination. In the case of the Board of Education
of Hendrick Hudson Central School District v. Rowley, a student who was deaf was provided
with a hearing aid, instruction from a tutor for the deaf for an hour a day, and a speech
therapist for three hours a week. Although, her parents didnt think that was enough, it was the
best the school could offer. The school did not deny her admission due to her disability, instead,
they tried to provide the best solutions to help with her education.
Another example would be the case of Cedar Rapids Independent School District v.
Garrett F., a student who is quadriplegic, required constant one on one nursing services that
the parents provided until the student began the fifth grade. The parents then requested for

Case Study 3

the school to start providing the services for the student since they believed that it was a
related service under the IDEA. When the school declined their request, the parents demanded
a due process hearing under the IDEA. The court ruled that the school was required provide
these services because the request was indeed considered a related service. This student was
granted and allowed an appropriate education.
Now, it is possible for the schools to not have sufficient funds to provide the resources
the student needs. In the case of LT v. Warwick School Committee, the school offered a
student a self-contained classroom that used the educational technique known as Treatment
and Education of Autistic and Communication- Handicapped Children. The parents requested
for the technique to instead be Discrete Trial Training, which provided more help for the
student. The First Circuit Court of Appeals stated that the IDEA does not entail a school to
provide the best resources to the special needs student, but to provide a reasonably
appropriate education.
In the case of McLaughlin v. Holt Public Schools, a student was found to be better
served outside of the local school, in a different school district. The local school did not provide
the necessary services the student needs, but a school outside of the district did. The Law
requires all schools to provide additional services to students in a regular classroom, before
determining a change to a more restrictive environment. The IDEA requires that special
education services are to be provided in a least restrictive environment to these students.
Jonathan is a special education student that needs special services in a classroom
setting. Being denied admission shouldnt have had been an option. Instead, the school officials

Case Study 4

should have tried to offer the best services possible through an IEP, or under the IDEA. If after
testing out all possibilities, nothing helped Jonathans education the way it should then the
parents should consider finding a more appropriate school suitable for Jonathan. I believe that
Jonathans parents should request a due process hearing under the IDEA, and fight for
Jonathans right to an appropriate education.

Case Study 5

References
Underwood, Julie., Webb, L. Dean. (2005). School Law for Teachers: Concepts and applications.
P.143-155
Board of Education of Hendrick Hudson Central School District v. Rowley. 458 U.S. 175 (1982).
LT v. Warwick School Committee. 361 F.3d 813 (7th Cir. 2001).
Cedar Rapids Independent School District v. Garrett F. 526 U.S. 66 (1999).
McLaughlin v. Holt Public Schools. 320 F.3d 663 (6th Cir. 2003).