Students and Tourette’s: Build on Existing Help

I commend Richard Dreyfuss for his Aug. 25 commentary, “Help in Educating Kids With Tourette’s.” He accurately expresses the concerns of many parents and educators. However, both California Education Code provisions and the federal Individuals With Disabilities Education Act currently provide for students with Tourette’s syndrome.

In both instances the emphasis is on the disability, not the label. Education Code Section 56026 identifies an individual with exceptional needs as one whose impairment “requires instruction, services, or both which cannot be provided with modification of the regular school program.” Likewise, Section 300.7 of the federal education act identifies such a student. A student with Tourette’s can qualify for special education under both laws as “other health impaired” and receive services stipulated in an individual education program.

Students with Tourette’s syndrome have additional protections and guarantees under Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act, which provides that accommodations must be made for individuals whose disability affects a “major life function.” Learning is considered a major life function.

As Dreyfuss mentions, Congress is in the process of reauthorizing the education act. Those of us concerned with all students with disabilities are working together to ensure that they are guaranteed the programs and services to which they are entitled.

Gerald J. Hime

Chair, Policy and Legislation

Committee, Council of

Administrators of Special

Education, Huntington Beach