Comparison of IDEA, Section 504 and the ADA (for students transitioning from High School to College)

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990 is a Federal law that ensures children (from ages 3 to 21) have a free appropriate public education in public elementary and secondary schools and that the rights of these children and their parents are protected. It also provides for help to the states and school districts who have responsibility for this education and evaluates their effectiveness in providing it.

The IDEA applies only to youth that have been determined eligible, are under 21 years old and have not graduated from high school. The public schools have a great deal of responsibility to ensure that those eligible are identified and provided with an appropriate education.

The IDEA does not apply to individuals with disabilities who attend college. College students must learn how and to what extent their access to instruction is guaranteed. College students must also learn how to establish their eligibility and request accommodations and modifications. One of the most common errors made by individuals with disabilities moving from high school to college is not learning what they must do to establish eligibility to receive services and accommodations.