IDEA: Equal Opportunity Celebrated

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act celebrated its 35^th year Monday, November 29^th.  The ground breaking piece of legislation shattered the long standing education boundaries for children with disabilities, opening public school systems and advancing disability awareness among students.

Remembering the IDEA

On Monday, President Obama released a statement in honor of the Act, expressing his commitment to equal opportunity in the schoolyard:

In America, we believe that every child, regardless of class, color, creed, or ability, deserves access to a world-class education […].  And as we mark the thirty-fifth anniversary of that law, we remember what it was all about.  Equal opportunity.  Equal access.  Not dependence, but independence.  We know that our educational system must hold children with disabilities to the same high standards as those without disabilities, and hold them accountable for their success and their growth. (i)

In honor of the 35^th anniversary of the IDEA, Program Development Associates would like to highlight the disability products available to educators, business owners, and parents that aid in education and employment.

Disability Education Resources

The rate of learning disability among children ages 5 to 18 is growing.  More than ever, it is important for parents and educators to learn about disability and create supportive, inclusive environments in which children can thrive.  PDA offers a variety of texts, DVDs, and interactive media to help with these often challenging endeavors.  Visit the PDA Learning Disabilities store to find the resources that are right for you.

Workplace Disability Training

The President’s words may have been in reference to the IDEA of 1975, but it is possible to extend their meaning to describe the level of disability employment for which we strive as a country.  After all, why should we work so diligently to produce equal access and opportunity for schooling without working with equal diligence to create equal opportunity for employment?

PDA is proud to offer the following resource selections to help employers, those with disability, and organizations build a foundation for diversity and growth:

Employer Relations Store

Building a disability employment program takes a steadfast commitment, and these disability training products help to refine internal interviewing, hiring, and training processes.

Career Management Store

For individuals with disabilities, choosing a career path may require a lifetime of continual learning and preparation.  These disability resources help individuals to identify their passions, work preferences, and suitable job opportunities.

Workplace Skills Store

Diverse workplaces rise or fall with the attitudes of those involved.  These disability products help members of organizations to cultivate soft skills, engage in sensitivity training, and learn to communicate effectively.

As we reflect on President Obama’s words, let us remember that there was a time when disability precluded one from attaining an education.  Let us remember the IDEA, and what it has meant for the 6.6 million children with disabilities who receive an education each year because of its enactment.  Most of all, let us remember that equal opportunity does not end with school children.

(i) http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2010/11/29/statement-president-35th-anniversary-individuals-with-disabilities-educa