09-16-02
IDEA Moves Forward While Stalling
Leslie Jackson
The President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education issued its report in early July. Congress had been waiting for the report to inform its deliberations on reauthorization of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and it was discussed in House and Senate hearings during July. The report will be used by the Department of Education to develop its recommendations and is likely to influence Congressional Proposals expected this fall.
Leaders in the Senate, who have been moving forward with internal and bipartisan discussions, are determined to introduce an IDEA bill this year. House leaders also want to do so, but at press time they were not going to finalize their plans until they returned from recess after Labor Day. But even if bills are introduced this fall, issues such as homeland security, Medicare prescription drug coverage, and annual appropriations crowd an election-year Congressional calendar, and IDEA reauthorization - with a full and thorough discussion of the issues - may not be possible in 2002.
This probable delay is not necessarily a problem, however. It will allow AOTA more time to analyze and present its issues and concerns to Congress. This "stall" also provides an opportunity to improve and expand our plan to influence reauthorization in support of occupational therapy and the children AOTA's members serve.
During June, July, and August, AOTA participated in many meetings with Congressional, Senate, White House, and Education agency staff to discuss personnel qualifications and training, early childhood intervention, and meeting student's behavioral needs. AOTA also participates on several coalitions with education, disability, early childhood, and related-services organizations that represent parents, teachers, school administrators, and other service providers. These coalitions are working to develop consensus on particular issues to help move reauthorization forward.
Final edits on AOTA's Principles for IDEA Reauthorization, which will guide the Association's lobbying efforts, also have been completed. The principles were based on AOTA Board of Directors-approved principles developed by a special task group in 1994. That group, as well as current members of the School System Special Interest Section, were invited to revisit the principles and suggest changes to improve or elaborate on them. Few changes were made other than references to issues related to the current federal administration, and most comments supported the principles as written. AOTA also submitted comments on the Presidential Commission report, citing concerns as well as commendations about its findings.
In accordance with the AOTA Strategic Plan and in collaboration with the ASPIIRE project, AOTA also is moving forward with activities to promote and support an expanded role for occupational therapy in schools. For instance, under ASPIIRE, an evidence-based practice guideline on the role of occupational therapy in addressing children's psychosocial needs is being developed.
The move to support school-based occupational therapy practice in areas such as behavioral issues, social integration, and the use of a consultative approach fits in very well with the President's Commission recommendations around early identification, intervention and prevention, and focus on success in key academic areas such as reading. In its comments on the Commission report, AOTA suggested that research be conducted on the role of occupational therapy in a broader, whole-school context and not just on one-to-one response to individual intervention. This perspective goes beyond the traditional "pull-out" model and positions occupational therapists to be in-school consultants on broader issues such as social behavior, classroom management and organization, and even related issues such as backpack use.
So while Congress is still trying to decide when it will move reauthorization, AOTA has time to articulate and flesh out the future role for occupational therapy in the schools, to identify with more clarity the issues faced by school-based practitioners and develop legislative solutions, and to share the message of occupational therapy's value - through AOTA staff lobbying and grassroots advocacy - to all members of Congress.
Remember, this is an election year. The individuals you elect to represent you in the Senate and the House will be voting on special education issues. Now is the time to raise questions about their views on this critical issue. By doing so you will be able to make an informed voting decision, and by seeking them out you will begin to develop an identity and a relationship that can help promote our profession during the next IDEA reauthorization.
Leslie Jackson, MEd, OT/L, is a representative in AOTA's Federal Affairs Group.
