This course examines the legal and ethical issues embedded in the provision of special education services to individuals with disabilities and their families. The course addresses the historical treatment of people with disabilities from a service delivery model perspective. Significant legislation and court decisions will be addressed along with current special education legal requirements and local, state, and community issues impacting services. Specific attention will be given to ways in which disability may be viewed as a form of diversity. Additionally, important frameworks and concepts including social construction of disability, self-determination, inclusion, collaboration with diverse families and person-centered planning will be explored in-depth.

Specifically this course will address the following themes:
· Current issues in the fields of general education and special education including ethical and legal requirements of the six major principles of the IDEA.
· Role, including all legal responsibilities, of the special education case manager when working with students with disabilities in a public school.
· Legal procedures governing referral, evaluation, eligibility determination, program planning, related services and the continuum of placements for students with disabilities.
· Federal and state regulations promoting involvement, participation and support of the student, family and classroom teacher in the special education process, including inter-agency relationships.
· Goals of VT’s Act 117 and Act 173 and the role of special education and Section 504 in the Educational Support System of the public school.
· Cultural and ethical issues surrounding a student with disabilities within the family and community environments, including the concepts of self-determination and self-advocacy.