By law, children in the U.S. have a right to a free appropriate education provided by their state or commonwealth. This applies to all children, including those with disabilities and special needs. Outlining the rights and protections given to students with disabilities are the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) of 1990. Under IDEA, most students receiving special education services have Individualized education plans (IEPs). Another federal law, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability status.
For post-secondary students, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act requires that colleges and universities reasonably accommodate qualifying students with disabilities. Accommodations might include more time on tests, note-taking assistance, or special schedules designed to support them in their learning. U.S. Department of Education regulations outline these rights for students with physical impairments such as orthopedic impairments, hearing impairments; visual impairments; intellectual disabilities; speech or language impairments; health impairments; and learning disorders – ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and dyslexia among them – as well as psychiatric conditions requiring psychoactive medication.
State and local laws also have put protections in place for students with disabilities. This includes laws protecting them from bullying or victimization, behavioral interventions that violate their IEP (manifestation determination), and failure to provide legally mandated services or accommodations.
If you are a student or a parent or guardian of a student in Greater Pittsburgh, get to know what local, state, and federal laws exist to protect students with disabilities.
Attorney-Advisors and the Education Law Team at the LLF Law Firm are experienced in working with schools and school districts to ensure students get the education they have a right to.
The Greater Pittsburgh Area
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the largest city in the Pittsburgh–New Castle–Weirton combined statistical area, encompassing 13 counties, including Allegheny, Butler, and Washington counties.
Municipalities, towns, and suburbs in the Greater Pittsburgh Area include the following, most of which are found in the Sewickley Valley, North Hills, and South Hills areas:
- Sewickley Heights
- Edgeworth
- Ben Avon Heights
- Fox Chapel
- Sewickley Hills
- Glen Osborne
- Thornburg
- Pine Township
- Rosslyn Farms
- Franklin Park
- Adams
- Cranberry
- Mount Lebanon
- Upper St. Clair
- Peters
- Cecil
Schools in the Greater Pittsburgh Area
If you aren't sure what your child's school is mandated to provide your student in regards to their disability or disabilities, you should be able to find this information on the school or district website. Most school districts have departments or offices dedicated to serving students with disabilities, and you should be able to find contact information online so you can get answers to your questions. Advocating for yourself or your student isn't always easy, and success depends on many factors.
If your student attends a school within Greater Pittsburgh, including those listed below, and you believe the school or school district is not upholding their legal responsibility to them, you may choose to consult with a legal advisor. Attorney-Advisors and the Education Law Team at the LLF Law Firm can increase the chances of getting your student what they deserve.
Public K-12 Schools
Greater Pittsburgh is home to a large number of K-12 public school districts, including the following, which are spread throughout the counties of Allegheny, Butler, and Washington:
- Allegheny Valley School District
- Avonworth School District
- Baldwin-Whitehall School District
- Bethel Park School District
- Brentwood Borough School District
- Carlynton School District
- Chartiers Valley School District
- Clairton City School District
- Cornell School District
- Deer Lakes School District
- East Allegheny School District
- Elizabeth Forward School District
- Fox Chapel Area School District
- Gateway School District
- Hampton Township School District
- Highlands School District
- Keystone Oaks School District
- McKeesport Area School District
- Montour School District
- Moon Area School District
- Mount Lebanon School District
- North Allegheny School District
- North Hills School District
- Northgate School District
- Penn Hills School District
- Pine-Richland School District
- Pittsburgh School District
- Plum Borough School District
- Quaker Valley School District
- Riverview School District
- Shaler Area School District
- South Allegheny School District
- South Park School District
- Steel Valley School District
- Sto-Rox School District
- Upper St. Clair School District
- West Allegheny School District
- West Jefferson Hills School District
- West Mifflin Area School District
- Wilkinsburg Borough School District
- Woodland Hills School District
- Butler Area School District
- Mars Area School District
- Moniteau School District
- Seneca Valley School District
- Slippery Rock Area School District
- South Butler County School District
- Karns City Area School District
- Avella Area School District
- Bentworth School District
- Bethlehem-Center School District
- Burgettstown Area School District
- California Area School District
- Canon-McMillan School District
- Charleroi School District
- Chartiers-Houston School District
- Fort Cherry School District
- McGuffey School District
- Peters Township School District
- Ringgold School District
- South Fayette Township School District
- Trinity Area School District
- Washington School District
Private high schools
Under IDEA, states are required to provide services to students with disabilities enrolled in private schools as well. If your student attends a private high school, including those listed below, make sure you understand what rights they are entitled to.
- Bishop Canevin High School
- Central Catholic High School
- Cornerstone Christian Preparatory Academy
- Eden Christian Academy
- The Ellis School
- Hillcrest Christian Academy
- Harvest Baptist Academy
- Imani Christian Academy
- Oakland Catholic High School
- Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School
- Serra Catholic High School
- Seton-La Salle Catholic High School
- Sewickley Academy
- Shady Side Academy
- St. Joseph High School
- Vincentian Academy
- Winchester Thurston School
Private Schools Serving Students with Disabilities
A number of private schools in Greater Pittsburgh specialize in serving students with disabilities:
- ACLD Tillotson School
- The Day School at The Children's Institute
- DePaul School for Hearing and Speech
- Easter Seal Society of Western Pennsylvania
- The Education Center at the Watson Institute
- Pace School
- Pressley Ridge Day School
- Pressley Ridge School for the Deaf
- The Watson Institute Friendship Academy
- Wesley Spectrum Highland Services
- Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children
- Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf
Post-Secondary Institutions
The Greater Pittsburgh Area is also home to a variety of colleges and universities required to follow state and federal education laws, including:
- Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius
- Carlow University
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Chatham University
- DeVry University
- Duquesne University
- La Roche College
- Penn State Greater Allegheny
- Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
- Point Park University
- Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary
- Robert Morris University
- University of Pittsburgh
Note that there are differences in the requirements of K-12 schools and post-secondary schools in serving students with disabilities. College or university students are not protected by IDEA, for example. While they may offer IEPs (often a continuation of a high school IEP), discussed below, they are not mandated to do so. It's also important to remember that as a parent or guardian of a student 18 years or older, you lack the same rights you had when your student was under 18 and attending a K-12 school.
If your state, K-12 school, college or university, or vocational school is not providing you or your student with legally entitled rights, you may wish to consult a qualified Attorney-Advisor and the Education Law Team at the LLF Law Firm.
FAPE, Reasonable Accommodations, LRE, and IEPs
As described above, under ADA, IDEA, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, students with disabilities are legally entitled to the services they need to complete their education.
Some notable components:
All children in the United States have a right to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). For students with disabilities, this may mean receiving additional services or programs at no cost to families.
Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) are plans that guide which support and services students need to meet academic standards. IEPs can grow and adjust with the student as their education progresses.
Schools must make reasonable accommodations so students with disabilities receive a quality of education that is equitable, depending on cost, available resources, and other factors.
Students with disabilities have a right to learn in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) possible. Removing them from peers and general classrooms should take place minimally. This may mean the student receives support from a one-to-one aid.
These rights and interventions work together to give students with disabilities the best possible educational experience.
Pennsylvania State Laws Protecting Students with Disabilities
Pennsylvania state laws offer another layer of protection for students with disabilities. Its Bureau of Special Education is a resource for regulations and policies.
The Bureau of Special Education oversees services for students learning with a variety of disabilities. These may include:
- Autism
- Deaf-blindness
- Deafness
- Emotional disturbances
- Hearing disabilities
- Intellectual disabilities
- Multiple disabilities
- Orthopedic impairments
- Other health impairments
- Specific learning disabilities
- Speech or language impairments
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Visual impairments
Protect Your Student's Right to an Education
Filing a Complaint
If you believe your school or district has violated laws or regulations designed to protect you or your student, you may wish to start with a formal, written, and signed Complaint Packet and Form to the Bureau of Education.
The experienced Education Law Team at the LLF Law Firm can help guide families and students through this process. The LLF Law Firm is a premier National Education Law firm serving students with disabilities and their families. They are passionate and experienced advocates who will protect your or your student's rights. Call 888-535-3686 for a consultation now, or use the online service.
