A special needs child must be diagnosed with a specific issue or set of issues to receive help. After the diagnosis is completed, the parents and educators will work as advocates on the child's behalf to ensure his or her education. State regulations and laws, while adhering to the federal guidelines, mandate how a child advocate applies for help then receives help with special needs education. Refer to the state regulations and laws when attempting to get help for a special needs child.
This federal regulation, often referred to as IDEA, requires school districts to provide every special needs student with an education. Some regulations under this law dictate which children are eligible for special education, how individual states apply for federal assistance and how states handle individual special education programs. Regulations require an eligible child to have issues in one or more of the following categories for eligibility: serious emotional disturbances, learning disabilities, mental retardation, traumatic brain injury, autism, vision and hearing impairments, physical disabilities or other health impairments.
Section 504 is a civil rights statute regulating school prejudice against special needs children. Under this regulation, schools are prevented from discriminating against students because of their disability. Schools are required to provide reasonable accommodations to special needs children, including special materials and wheelchair accessible entryways or doorways.
The Americans with Disabilities Act is often referred to as ADA. This regulation prevents schools from discriminating against students with psychiatric disabilities. The ADA does not apply to religious schools. This federal regulation also prohibits schools from denying educational services, programs or activities to students with disabilities.