OPPORTUNITY FOR NAMI'S GRASSROOTS TO BE HEARD ON THE REAUTHORIZATION OF IDEA

NAMI E-News 
February 21, 2002 
Vol. 01-53  

Later this year, Congress is expected to take up the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA is a federal law that guarantees a free, appropriate public education to each child with a disability in every state and locality across the country. Among the many goals of the law, IDEA is designed to ensure that the rights of children with disabilities and their parents are protected. We know that children and adolescents can and do have severe and persistent mental illnesses. In the United States, 1 in 10 children and adolescents suffer from mental illness severe enough to cause impairment. However, in any given year, fewer than 1 in 5 of these children receives needed treatment. 

For the many NAMI families and advocates who are familiar with IDEA and/or have children receiving special education services, this reauthorization will be very important-NAMI families know all too well the challenges and barriers faced in getting the appropriate services and supports for their children with mental illness. IDEA offers many strong protections for students with disabilities and also contains many provisions directing access to the necessary services and supports a child's needs to be able to get the most out of their education. NAMI advocates are asked to share their experiences with IDEA and offer their comments on this important law for children with disabilities. 

Submit Comments to the Department of Education on IDEA Reauthorization 

The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) of the Department of Education has invited comments on the reauthorization of IDEA. Comments are requested by February 25, 2002, and can be submitted via email to Comments@ed.gov (please use the term "IDEA Reauthorization" in the subject line of your email), or you can submit comments by mail to the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Mary E. Switzer Building, Room 3086, Washington DC 20202-2570. Although only Part C (Section on Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities), and Part D (Section on National Activities to Improve Education of Children with Disabilities) are set to expire on September 30, 2002, the notice in the Federal Register states that "although Part B of IDEA is permanent legislation with no requirement for reauthorization, the reauthorization process for Parts C and D provides an opportunity to carefully examine Part B as well." 

Part B (Assistance for Education of All Children with Disabilities) is the section of the law that authorizes funding for the state formula grant program for the purpose of educating children with disabilities aged 3 through 21. This section of the law also includes provision relating to the condition of ensuring a free appropriate public education, and other important language relating to evaluations, eligibility, IEPs (individualized education plans), due process and discipline procedures. 

For more information on how to submit comments please visit: http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/other/2002-1/011002c.html 

Participate in Public Hearings on the Reauthorization for IDEA 

NAMI advocates can also get involved by attending one of the several meetings on IDEA that will be held in the upcoming months. In October 2001, President Bush appointed a commission to study the federal, state and local special education programs and recommend how to reform the special education system and related services in order to improve the educational performance of children with disabilities. The "President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education" will deliver its recommendations to President Bush in a report due out mid-summer (the report was originally to be submitted no later than April 30, 2002, however, because of delays the commission expects the report to be released late June). The commission, which held its first meeting on January 15th, will hold meetings around the country to allow the public to comment on the law and provide the commission with information and guidance. 

Listed below is the meeting schedule-Public comment periods will be held during these sessions, for more information on location and agenda please visit the Commissions website at http://www.ed.gov/inits/commissionsboards/whspecialeducation/index.html 

Date: Location: Topic: 

February 25-27 Houston, TX Full MTG 

March 6 Denver, CO Professional Development 

March 13 Des Moines, IA Accountability 

March 20 San Diego, CA Systems Administration 

March 21 Los Angeles, CA Finance 

April 9-10 Miami, FL Full MTG 

April 16th New York City Assessment 

April 18 Nashville, TN Research agenda 

May 30-31 Washington, DC Full MTG 

This is an opportunity for NAMI advocates to have their voices heard on these critical issues affecting children and adolescents with mental illnesses. 

The NAMI E-News is an electronic newsletter delivering the latest in federal action alerts, legislative and policy updates, and NAMI press releases. Provided free of charge as a public service, the NAMI E-News is read by more than 16,500 NAMI members, policymakers, federal and state legislators, media, providers, health care policy experts, and others interested in improving the lives of individuals with severe mental illnesses and their families. 

Contributions to support the NAMI E-News are welcomed and can be made online (http://www.nami.org/about/development/index.html); via mail (make check payable to NAMI and send to NAMI, P.O. Box 79972, Baltimore, MD 21279-0972); or through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC #0538). 

Currently, NAMI Members number 220,000. 

Opinions expressed in this web site do not necessarily reflect the views of NAMI Santa Cruz County, NAMI California or any affiliated organizations.  We attempt to present a balanced perspective on issues by presenting multiple viewpoints.

Copyright 2005 National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Santa Cruz County, All Rights Reserved.

FAIR USE NOTICE: This may contain copyrighted (©) material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such material is made available to advance understanding of ecological, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml  If you wish to use copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.