Education across the country

The New IDEA Act amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to expand the legal definitions of specific learning disabilities, explicitly including conditions such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia. It also updates terminology for language impairments by adding developmental language disorder and clarifies that autism is part of a broader category of spectrum disorders. The bill establishes clear criteria for what constitutes a specific learning disability while excluding issues caused by factors like visual or hearing impairments, intellectual disabilities, or a lack of appropriate instruction. Additionally, it requires local educational agencies to ensure equal access to accommodations and services for eligible children from low-income households and those with limited English proficiency.

The Improving Access to Higher Education Act requires all institutions of higher education to establish an Office of Accessibility responsible for informing students about their rights, providing accommodations, and accepting specific documentation like Individualized Education Programs to verify disability status. The bill authorizes competitive grants for colleges to train faculty in accessible teaching methods and to create inclusive programs that lead to degrees or credentials for students with intellectual disabilities. Additionally, it establishes an independent commission to develop guidelines for accessible electronic instructional materials and creates a National Technical Assistance Center to provide resources and technical support to both students and educational institutions.