C. Efforts to forge bipartisanship and consensus tried but ultimately failed. Congress Tied IDEA to the Precept of Emerging Disability Policy Framework Disability is a natural part of the human experience and in no way diminishes the right of individuals to participate in or contribute to society. Congress Tied IDEA to Goals of Disability Policy Improving educational results for children with disabilities is an essential element of our national policy of ensuring equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities. Prepare children with disabilities for employment and independent living . Ensure that educators and parents have the necessary tools to improve educational results.
Messages sent by policy makers and received by stakeholders are critical to implementation.
B. Messages in IDEA Leadership by school officials is the single most important factor assuring improved educational results for children with disabilities. Affecting Their Children Provisions in the law must foster, not impede reaching agreement between parents and school officials, i.e., provisions in the law must level the playing field and provide incentives to reach consensus. When agreement is reached between parents and school officials, the agreement should be faithfully implemented. The agreement should not be changed unless both sides consent to the change. Unilateral changes should occur only in the most egregious situations.