IDEA and Music Therapy

IDEA Regulations and Music Therapy as a Related Service
 

August 25, 2005, After several years of advocacy, the US Dept. of Education is considering changing the wording of the IDEA laws to include music therapy as a related service. Music therapists, special education and general education teachers, parents, and colleagues have an opportunity to influence this legislation by providing comments on the proposed IDEA regulations.   Once these regulations are completed, they will be utilized by schools to assist them in implementing the special education law.  U.S. Department of Education staff has indicated a need to hear comments from parents, as well as clinicians.

All comments on the proposed regulations are to be filed with the Department's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS).   Comments and recommendations can be submitted most efficiently VIA EMAIL TO: IDEACOMMENTS@ED.GOV

You must include in the SUBJECT line: COMMENTS ON IDEA-PART B.

Although not recommended due to the extensive security screening process, comments can also be mailed to the following address:

Dr. Troy R. Justesen
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Potomac Center Plaza, Room 5126
Washington, DC, 20202-2641

On the website for the American Music Therapy Association, it includes sample letters that make it very easy for anyone to email a personalized request.  The deadline is Sept. 6, 2005.  For more information, visit:

http://www.musictherapy.org/events/ideacall.html