Supreme Court Case Could Cripple Protections for Disabled Students

Supreme Court Case Could Significantly Impact Rights of Disabled Students A Supreme Court case, A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools, is raising concerns about the future of disability rights in education. The case centers on A.J.T., a student with severe epilepsy, who was denied necessary accommodations by her new school district after her family moved to Minnesota. Her previous school successfully accommodated her condition, providing evening classes to minimize the impact of her seizures. The new district, however, offered only a few hours of daily instruction and other isolating options. "The new district refused to do the same," explains the video creator, "They only offered a few hours a day and other options that would have isolated her from her classmates." This led the family to sue under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The case highlights a critical issue: the higher standard of proof required to win disability discrimination cases in schools. This standard, stemming from an older court case, necessitates proving that the school acted with 'bad faith' or 'gross misjudgment,' a much higher bar than for other discrimination cases. The school district's lawyer argued during oral arguments on April 28th that this higher standard should apply to all disability cases, not just those involving schools. This stance has alarmed disability advocates. Even conservative justices expressed reservations during the arguments. "Even conservative justices were pushing back," notes the video creator. The potential impact is significant, as approximately 7.5 million disabled students rely on public schools. A ruling upholding the higher standard could severely limit their ability to challenge discriminatory practices. The court's decision will have far-reaching consequences for the educational rights of disabled students across the nation. The outcome is expected in the coming weeks.