People with disabilities deal with varying levels of stigma, marginalization and low expectations in all parts of their lives; education is no different. Nationally, only 65 percent of students with disabilities graduate from high school compared to 86 percent of students without disabilities. Only seven percent of students with disabilities graduate from college.
There are many factors contributing to inequality in our education system for people with disabilities. Social attitudes toward children with disabilities and a lack of trained teachers, resources and accessible learning programs are all issues that prevent children with disabilities from receiving an equal education to non-disabled students. Additionally, the percentage of people with disabilities living in poverty is disproportionately high, which strongly influences the resources in their local school system. These educational inequalities start at a young age and snowball throughout the child’s education, often leading to them dropping out.
In Michigan, another barrier that students with disabilities face is receiving a Certificate of Completion instead of a high school diploma. This is a document presented to students who have completed high school but have not met the requirements for a diploma as set by the State of Michigan. Receiving a Certificate of Completion in lieu of a diploma may affect a student’s ability to be admitted to college, be eligible for scholarships, or secure a job.
There are several federal laws that provide education rights to students with disabilities. The Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law that makes available a free, appropriate, public education to children with disabilities and ensures special education related services. During the 2018-19 school year, IDEA governed how states and public agencies provided special education to about 7.5 million students with disabilities.
