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Practice Standards & Resources IEPs, 504s & School LawAn overview of the federal and state legal frameworks that govern services for students who are deaf or hard of hearing, with practical guidance on IDEA, Section 504, and the educational audiologist's role at the IEP table. Three Resources to Look at FirstKey Points at a GlanceAudiology Is a Required Related Service Under IDEAFederal regulations under IDEA name audiology specifically as a related service available to eligible students. 504 Protects Equal AccessSection 504 requires schools to provide reasonable accommodations so students with hearing differences can access learning. The Educational Audiologist Belongs at the TableEducational audiologists bring essential expertise to IEP and 504 team decisions about hearing and access. Special Factors Can Be PivotalIDEA's special factors include considerations for students who are deaf or hard of hearing that the IEP team must address. EAA Position Statements and StandardsThere is no EAA position statement on this topic yet. See the EAA resources below for foundational guidance. EAA Practical Tools & ResourcesEAA RESOURCE MEMBERS ONLY
Audiology Services Under 504When Section 504 applies, and how educational audiology services work within it. Log in to access. EAA RESOURCE MEMBERS ONLY
Educational Audiology Services Under IDEA: Pertinent RegulationsThe federal IDEA language educational audiologists cite most often. Log in to access. EAA RESOURCE MEMBERS ONLY
The Role of Educational Audiologists in IDEA's Special FactorsHow special-factors language applies to students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Log in to access. EAA Research & EvidencePeer-reviewed articles from the Journal of Educational, Pediatric & (Re)Habilitative Audiology. JEPRA
Educational Policy Influences on Educational Audiology: A Decade ReviewSeaton & DeConde Johnson External ResourcesExternal links are informational and not endorsements. EXTERNAL · WRIGHTSLAW
IEP Information & ResourcesWrightslaw's main IEP primer, with practical guidance for parents and educators. EXTERNAL · WRIGHTSLAW
Section 504 Information & ResourcesWrightslaw's primer on Section 504 protections for students in schools. EXTERNAL · HANDS & VOICES
ASTra Advocacy SupportHands & Voices' parent-led advocacy program for navigating IEPs and 504s. EXTERNAL · COPAA
Council of Parent Attorneys and AdvocatesA national organization advancing the legal rights of children with disabilities. EXTERNAL · DOJ
E.M. v. Pajaro Valley USD — DOJ Amicus BriefA U.S. Department of Justice amicus brief in a Ninth Circuit special-education case involving a student with an auditory processing disorder. EXTERNAL · HANDS & VOICES
PARC: Placement & Readiness ChecklistsThe Anderson/Johnson PARC checklists for readiness and placement, covering Pre-K through secondary. Handbook Appendix 11–D. EXTERNAL · HANDS & VOICES
IEP Checklist: Recommended AccommodationsAn accommodations and modifications checklist for the IEPs and 504 plans of students who are deaf or hard of hearing (Handbook Appendix 11–A). EXTERNAL · NM PED
IEP Communication Considerations WorksheetA New Mexico worksheet aligned with IDEA's special-factors language (Handbook Appendix 11–C). EXTERNAL · COLORADO DOE
Colorado IEP Communication Plan FormsThe official Communication Plan template, hosted by the Colorado Department of Education (Handbook Appendix 14–A). EXTERNAL · IDEA
IDEA Sec. 300.34 — Related ServicesThe federal IDEA regulation that names audiology as a required related service. Hosted by the U.S. Department of Education. Know the Law Defend access with the law behind you.EAA helps you navigate IDEA, Section 504, and state regulations with confidence — and make the case at the IEP table, with school boards, and beyond. Members-Only Discussion In the EAA CommunityOn the EAA listserv, members regularly discuss IEPs, 504 plans, and school law. Recent threads have covered:
Related TopicsAdvocacy & Program Justification ›Making the case for the educational audiology program that this legal framework requires. Assessment & Evaluation ›The evaluations that establish a student's eligibility under IDEA and Section 504. Early Intervention & Transitions ›The handoffs between Part C, Part B, and post-secondary services across the lifespan. Frequently Asked QuestionsIs audiology a required service under IDEA?Yes. Audiology is explicitly named in IDEA's list of related services. When a student needs audiology services to benefit from special education, the IEP team must include them in the IEP. What's the difference between IDEA and Section 504?IDEA is special-education law that requires specially designed instruction. Section 504 is civil-rights law that requires reasonable accommodations to ensure access. Many students qualify under both. When should an audiologist be invited to an IEP meeting?An audiologist should be invited whenever hearing, listening, or hearing-technology decisions are on the table — and especially when IDEA's special-factors language applies to a student who is deaf or hard of hearing. Where do state laws fit in?States can extend protections beyond the federal floor, and many do. Always check your state department of education's special-education guidance for its rules on screening, eligibility, and service delivery. Have a resource to suggest?Help keep this page current. EAA members are welcome to suggest resources to add. |
