Legal and public policy foundations supporting service integration for students with disabilities

Historically, services to students with disabilities have been described as segmented, fragmented, and, in some cases, ineffective. Reasons suggested for the problems with service delivery in special education have included: (a) financial issues, such as discrete funding streams; (b) structure, such as service delivery from different agencies; (c) logistics, such as assist ance offered at a variety of sites requiring multiple trips to obtain the c ombination of services needed; and (d) competing agency and governmental re quirements, such as regulations and legislation directing the availability of services in various forms, as well as confidentiality, due process, and inclusion issues. This article examines the legal and public policy underpi nnings of new paradigms of integrated services for disabled students, who o ften have a wide variety of challenging needs. The legislative and litigati ve foundations for special education law are explored. Further, the impact of public policy in influencing the development of school/community-based a nd -linked services for disabled students is highlighted.