Opinion ID: 524050
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Priority For The Most Severely Handicapped

Text: 54 Not only did Congress intend that all handicapped children be educated, it expressly indicated its intent that the most severely handicapped be given priority. This resolve was reiterated over and over again in the floor debates and congressional reports, as well as in the final legislation. 55 The principal author, Senator Williams, stated that the bill assures that handicapped children in the greatest need will be given priority by requiring that services be provided first to those children not receiving an education; and second, to those children with the most severe handicaps receiving an inadequate education. 121 Cong.Rec. S37413 (1975) (emphasis added). 6 The Senate Committee's report stated: 56 [T]he Committee has provided that States shall provide second priority ... to handicapped children with the most severe handicaps.... It is the intent of the Committee that States follow this priority by providing services to handicapped children who, within each disability group, (including the multi-handicapped as a disability group) have the most severe handicaps. Priority must be given to multi-handicapped children who are the most severely disabled.... 57 Senate Report at 22 (1975), 1975 U.S.Code Cong. & Admin.News, 1446. See also id. at 18, 46. The House report also included such priorities: In conformance with the overall goal of ending exclusion ... [the bill gives] first priority to children 'unserved' [and] second priority to severely handicapped children. House Report at 12 (1975). 58 This priority reflected congressional acceptance of the thesis that early educational intervention was very important for severely handicapped children. See, e.g., 121 Cong.Rec. S19493 (1975) (remarks of Sen. Williams) (The Bureau of Education for the handicapped has documented that, especially with respect to children who are most severely handicapped--that is, persons who are deaf, blind, deaf-blind, severely or profoundly mentally retarded, severely physically handicapped--the earlier educational services are provided the greater the results.). 59 If the order of the district court denying Timothy W. the benefits of the Act were to be implemented, he would be classified by the Act as in even greater need for receiving educational services than a severely multi-handicapped child receiving inadequate education. He would be in the highest priority--as a child who was not receiving any education at all. 60