Special Education Policy in the United States and Ireland

Abstract

A global human rights and social justice agenda has influenced governments to recognize their responsibility to achieve a system of inclusive education for students with disabilities. Inclusive education in the United States is defined by the premise that all eligible students be provided with a free appropriate public education, as outlined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. In Ireland, though now in a period of review, the Education of Persons with Special Educational Needs Act is considered a coherent framework for inclusive education for students with special educational needs. Internationally, universal design for learning is recognized as an approach that supports the development of inclusivity in schools. This chapter outlines the national policies governing special education in American and Irish schools. Using a UDL lens, this chapter provides a synthesis of key principles of the IDEA and EPSEN; highlights alignments between these acts and the principles of UDL; and compares the policies to provide a critical analysis within an international context.