Americans With Disability Act & Schools
Established in 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, protects the civil rights of people with mental and physical disabilities. The government requires school districts to comply with the ADA in order to ensure that schools do not exclude students with disabilities from programs and activities.
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Transportation
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Transportation to and from school must be provided to students with disabilities, and specific vehicles are designated for this purpose. Handicapped accessible buses must have wheelchair lifts and securing equipment, ramps and additional space to accommodate assistive devices required by the passengers. In addition, districts must employ adults to ride these buses to supervise and provide care to the students.
Accessibility
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School buildings must be accessible to children with disabilities. Automatic doors, street to curb ramps and handicapped parking should help provide entrance into the building. Bathrooms are equipped with handicapped accessible stalls with grab bars and raised toilet seats. Lower height sinks are provided for children in wheelchairs. Handicapped seating is available in the lunchroom, and adaptive playground equipment allows children with disabilities to participate in recess activities.
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Adaptive Equipment and Programming
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Schools have the responsibility for providing equipment that children may require to successfully participate in school activities. This includes communication devices, adaptive seating, specialized writing instruments and devices to improve the child's mobility within the school building. Classroom tools are put in place to enhance hearing and vision for children with difficulties in these areas. Physical education activities are adapted to meet the current functional abilities of the disabled students to allow them to participate with their classmates.
Paraprofessional Staff
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Schools employ a teacher's aide to work with a particular child who requires one-on-one assistance throughout the school day. This provides the student with consistent help while allowing the teacher to focus on the needs of the class as a whole. The teacher's aide assists the child with writing activities, reading, mobility within the school building and transport to the nurse as needed for personal care issues and medical interventions.
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References
- Photo Credit School Supplies image by ne_fall_photos from Fotolia.com
