Free ASD Legal and Ethical Considerations Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal law ensures that children with Autism Spectrum Disorder are entitled to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) in the United States?
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Rehabilitation Act of 1973
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (Correct answer)
- Civil Rights Act
Correct answer: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
IDEA mandates that children with disabilities, including those with ASD, are entitled to FAPE, which includes individualized educational plans tailored to their needs. The ADA (Answer A) prohibits discrimination based on disability but does not specifically address educational entitlements. The Rehabilitation Act (Answer B) provides protections in settings that receive federal funding, and the Civil Rights Act (Answer D) does not specifically address disability education rights.
Question 2: Under which law are public places and facilities required to make reasonable accommodations for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder?
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (Correct answer)
- Social Security Act
Correct answer: Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The ADA requires that public places, employers, and state and local governments make reasonable accommodations to ensure access and avoid discrimination for individuals with disabilities, including those with ASD. Section 504 (Answer B) provides similar protections but is limited to federally funded institutions. IDEA (Answer A) focuses on education, and the Social Security Act (Answer D) primarily addresses benefits, not accommodations.
Question 3: Which of the following is an ethical consideration when working with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder?
- Ensuring all interventions are mandated by law
- Prioritizing treatments that are financially affordable over those that are effective
- Respecting the individual's autonomy and preferences (Correct answer)
- Applying identical treatment plans across all individuals with ASD
Correct answer: Respecting the individual's autonomy and preferences
Ethically, professionals must respect the autonomy, preferences, and dignity of individuals with ASD, tailoring interventions to meet individual needs. Treatments should be individualized and based on evidence rather than applied identically across all cases (Answer D). Mandating interventions by law (Answer A) and prioritizing cost over effectiveness (Answer B) are not ethical best practices in ASD care.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes the purpose of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for a student with Autism Spectrum Disorder?
- To document the academic performance of all students
- To provide a tailored educational plan with specific goals and supports (Correct answer)
- To set a standard, uniform curriculum for students with disabilities
- To replace general education with specialized ASD instruction exclusively
Correct answer: To provide a tailored educational plan with specific goals and supports
An IEP is designed to provide a customized education plan that includes specific goals, accommodations, and services based on the individual needs of the student with ASD. It is not a standardized curriculum (Answer C), nor does it replace general education entirely (Answer D); instead, it integrates supports to help the student succeed. The IEP does not serve to document the performance of all students (Answer A), only those with identified special education needs.
Question 5: Which of the following is a legal right of parents or guardians in the educational planning process for a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder?
- The right to request an evaluation for special education services (Correct answer)
- The right to determine which therapies are covered by insurance
- The right to mandate all school staff follow one specific teaching strategy
- The right to refuse accommodations listed in an IEP
Correct answer: The right to request an evaluation for special education services
Parents or guardians have the legal right to request an evaluation for special education services under IDEA. While they do have input on educational strategies, they cannot unilaterally mandate that staff use only one specific teaching approach (Answer C), nor can they control insurance coverage for therapies (Answer B). Refusing accommodations (Answer D) would generally not be in the child’s best interest but is not within the intended scope of parental rights under IDEA.
Free ASD Legal and Ethical Considerations Questions and Answers
Which federal law ensures that children with Autism Spectrum Disorder are entitled to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) in the United States?