Disability Matters - by Paul Jaeger & Cynthia Bowman (Hardcover)

About the Book

Authored by a legal specialist and an education professor, this study is targeted to everyone involved in the education of students with disabilities and provides a full examinatiaon of the legal issues. Each chapter blends classroom vignettes and teachable moments with relevant legal rights and responsibilities of all school personnel.

Disability rights laws are an essential part of every classroom, not just special education classrooms. Laws providing rights and protections to students and teachers with disabilities will be limited in utility unless all teachers understand the laws and the roles of the laws in the classroom. As the number of lawsuits in education is on the rise, Teachers must learn about the numerous legal issues possible in order to protect themselves against becoming involved in court cases. Teacher preparation programs must prepare all teachers to deal with these issues and to be aware of legal requirements for an equal education.

A legal mandate for an individual education plan, a less restrictive environment, and a free appropriate public education for students with disabilities are topics that all general education teachers must know and understand. This text is geared to all general education majors at all levels and in every content area, as well as administrators, teachers, parents of students with disabilities, and those involved in legal research.

Book Synopsis

Authored by a legal specialist and an education professor, this study is targeted to everyone involved in the education of students with disabilities and provides a full examinatiaon of the legal issues. Each chapter blends classroom vignettes and teachable moments with relevant legal rights and responsibilities of all school personnel.

Disability rights laws are an essential part of every classroom, not just special education classrooms. Laws providing rights and protections to students and teachers with disabilities will be limited in utility unless all teachers understand the laws and the roles of the laws in the classroom. As the number of lawsuits in education is on the rise, Teachers must learn about the numerous legal issues possible in order to protect themselves against becoming involved in court cases. Teacher preparation programs must prepare all teachers to deal with these issues and to be aware of legal requirements for an equal education.

A legal mandate for an individual education plan, a less restrictive environment, and a free appropriate public education for students with disabilities are topics that all general education teachers must know and understand. This text is geared to all general education majors at all levels and in every content area, as well as administrators, teachers, parents of students with disabilities, and those involved in legal research.

Review Quotes

?This report meets an important need for teachers and educational policy makers who must know the judicial decisions and government rules that have emanated from the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)....this concise volume may be of significant value, especially as a reference source or a primer on legal issues surrounding the education of disabled students. Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above.?-Choice

"This report meets an important need for teachers and educational policy makers who must know the judicial decisions and government rules that have emanated from the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)....this concise volume may be of significant value, especially as a reference source or a primer on legal issues surrounding the education of disabled students. Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above."-Choice

About the Author

PAUL T. JAEGER is Legal Research Associate, Information Use Management and Policy Institute, Florida State University.

CYNTHIA ANN BOWMAN is Assistant Professor, English Education, Florida Sate University.