Nichole Guntz

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law mandating that children with disabilities receive a free, appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment. The goal of IDEA is to provide children with disabilities the same opportunity for education as those students who do not have a disability. When students are sent away from their home schools, disability is no longer part of everyday school life. It becomes something handled separately. That weakens inclusion and makes it easier for schools to avoid building accessible, supportive classrooms for ALL students.