Education

Schools cannot discriminate based on disability. If you have a child with a disability and have concerns about educational programs that your child may be entitled to or eligible for, contact your local public school system.

Higher education in Kentucky consists of a variety of colleges and universities, along with the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. Students seek higher education for many different reasons, but one of the biggest reasons is because students who take part in higher education can earn more money than those with a high school education.

What is IDEA? The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is the federal law that provides services for children whose disability negatively affects their educational performance and/or ability to benefit from the general education. For school-aged children and youth (age 3 to 21), supplemental education and related services are provided through the public school system. A written Individualized Education Program (IEP) is required with specific content about services to be provided. If the child is in school, IDEA specifies that assistive technology is any “item, piece of equipment of product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified or customized, that is used to increase, maintain or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities” Assistive technology devices and services are to be made “available to a child with a disability if required as part of the child’s special education, related services, or supplemental aids and services.”

The Kentucky Deaf-Blind Project provides statewide technical assistance and training to persons who have a combination of vision and hearing challenges. Services are offered to persons free of charge from birth to 22 years of age, and also to their families and service providers.

The Kentucky Supported Higher Education Partnership (KSHEP) is a network of Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) across the state offering inclusive higher education programs for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, such as Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary (CTP) programs. CTPs support students with intellectual disabilities (ID) who want to continue academic or career and technical instruction at an IHE in order to better prepare for competitive integrated employment and independent living. In Kentucky, there are currently four CTPs at the University of Kentucky, Murray State University, Northern Kentucky University, and Bluegrass Community and Technical College.

KY-SPIN, Inc. (Kentucky Special Parent Involvement Network) is a statewide 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. The mission of KY-SPIN, Inc. is to link families and individuals with disabilities to valuable resources that will enable them to live productive, fulfilling lives. KY-SPIN, Inc. has a Board of Directors comprised of parents, consumers and professionals who provide guidance and assistance to the various programs. The majority of KY-SPIN Board of Directors are parents.

Transition is the “exit” out of a child’s secondary school to the adult world. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that children with disabilities have access to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) that prepares them for further education, employment, and independent living. One strategy for ensuring a successful transition, is planning. As part of IDEA, schools are required to provide transition planning to help the student identify interests, strengths, preferences and needs. Transition planning also means identifying possible post-school activities, including postsecondary education, vocational education, integrated employment, continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, and/or community participation. Transition is also developing a coordinated set of activities for a student that will help him or her to achieve those goals.

Every student participates in school activities with a goal of being prepared to function at some level of independence as a result of the student's school experience. Although this is no different for students with disabilities, differences do exist as far as what needs to occur before and after graduation if students are to move successfully from high school to post-school activities such as training, employment and independent living.