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2.2: Americans with Disabilities Act (2008)

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    The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was first passed in 1990 and was then updated in 2008. The ADA is a federal civil rights law that protects people with disabilities from discrimination. Its goal is to ensure that people with disabilities have equal rights and the same opportunities as individuals without disabilities regarding education, work, transportation, and access to public places.

    In schools, the ADA requires that students with disabilities be provided the same opportunities as other students. Schools must ensure that students with disabilities can access school buildings, participate in programs, and benefit from the same services offered to other students. The ADA also requires that schools make "reasonable accommodations" to help these students succeed.

    Schools' and Teachers' Responsibilities under the ADA:

    • Ensure that students with disabilities are treated fairly and provided with the resources they need, including but not limited to ensuring access to education, providing accommodations, and fostering inclusion.
    • Ensure that students with disabilities are not excluded from any educational activities, whether in the classroom, on school trips, or during extracurricular activities For example: If a student uses a service animal, the school must allow the animal to accompany the student to all school events (US Department of Education, 2025).
    • Provide reasonable accommodations to help students with disabilities succeed. Accommodations might include changes to how lessons are taught, the tools used in the classroom, or even the classroom itself. For example: Students with hearing impairments may need captions on videos, while students with mobility issues might need ramps or special furniture to move around comfortably. These accommodations help ensure that students with disabilities can participate fully in their education (Graber and Dragoo, 2024).
    • Work with parents and related service professionals to develop plans that support students with disabilities. For students who need special education services, schools create Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) that outline specific goals and services. While the ADA doesn’t directly require IEPs, it supports this process by making sure that students with disabilities have access to the help they need.
    • Understand their roles and responsibilities related to supporting students with disabilities. Teachers must know how to adjust their teaching strategies to meet the needs of all students, whether by offering different ways of learning or using technology to help students with disabilities participate in lessons (Graber and Dragoo, 2024).
    • Ensure that all technology used in the classroom is accessible to students with disabilities. For example: Educational websites and digital tools must be usable by students with visual impairments or other disabilities. Teachers must make sure that resources like videos have captions, images have text descriptions, and that all digital content is easy to navigate for all students (US Department of Education, 2025).

    This page titled 2.2: Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by .

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