Top of page
Law

Texas ignores federal law regarding special education students over 18, lawsuit claims

students in the classroom

A Texan man and special watchdog groups contend that the state of Texas is violating federal law by refusing to allow guardians to look after certain students after they become legally adult, writes the Houston Chronicle.

Mr Alvarez’s son Jesse is in his late teens but intellectually he is on the level of first or second grade. He has  attention deficit, hyperactivity disorder and learning disability and can not make decisions  for himself. Mr Alvarez was concerned that the school was not meeting Jesse’s needs and asked for a hearing but was told by a special education officer that he could not longer represent his son who was veer 18.

Disability Rights Texas, an advocacy group, asked the Texas Education Agency (TEA)  in August to amend its rules to create a procedure to appoint a parent or other guardian. In October, the agency responded that its hands are tied.

“There is no law in Texas by which to determine that an adult student who has not been deemed incompetent may be found to lack the ability to provide informed consent,” wrote Justin Porter, director of Special Education for the TEA. Steven Aleman, a policy specialist for Disability Rights Texas, said he is disappointed with the TEA’s conclusion. A longtime lobbyist who advocates for people with disabilities, he said he wants to see more leadership from the TEA and less finger-pointing.

You might also like

Elderly men and boy on dry ground Elderly men and boy on dry ground

Durham University drives global climate and health law

The World Health Organization identifies climate change as the biggest…

student in wheelchair in library student in wheelchair in library

Government planner to help university students with disabilities into work

Hundreds of thousands of disabled university and higher education students…

Two young children with laptop Two young children with laptop

USAID announces new initiative to support education in Uzbekistan

Administrator Samantha Power visited a school in Tashkent and announced…

Young female caregiver helping a senior man in a wheelchair in a nursing home at night smiling Young female caregiver helping a senior man in a wheelchair in a nursing home at night smiling

HHS announces new rule to bolster disability protections under Federal law

The US Department of Health and Human Services unveiled a…