Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

A United States federal law that guarantees students with disabilities the right to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment. Originally enacted in 1975 as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act and reauthorized as IDEA in 1990 and again in 2004, the law requires public schools to develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for each eligible student with a disability. IDEA covers 13 disability categories and mandates that schools provide special education services and related supports. In the 2018/19 school year, approximately 7.1 million US students (13% of public school enrollment) received services under IDEA. The law has significant implications for digital accessibility in education, as schools must ensure that online learning platforms and digital course content are accessible to students receiving IDEA services.