Timothy W. v. Rochester School District
What if a child is so severely handicapped that the child does not appear to actually benefit from an education? At first, the court in this case found for the school district. The decision from the appeals court overturned this decision. The appeals court said in part that there is no burden on the student to prove that he or she will benefit from an education. The burden is on the school to determine how to best meet the unique needs of each disabled child. Further, the court noted that IDEA specifically “provides for education of children who are so severely handicapped as to require hospitalization or institutionalization" (Looney 87-92).
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