IDEA '97 and children who stutter: evaluation and intervention that lead to successful, productive lives.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) '97 is the federal law that shapes the legal process involved with evaluating and treating children who stutter. The speech-language pathologist is required to provide a complete evaluation of the child's communication skills, including documentation of the impact of the child's stuttering on his involvement in his education. Goals and benchmarks are written based on the weaknesses identified in the child's present level of performance within the Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Transition plans are crucial for the child who stutters to become a healthy, productive member of society. Therapy frequency and location are based on the child's individual needs. Placement, dismissal, and re-enrollment are issues that vary for each child who stutters. IDEA '97 provides speech-language pathologists with clear direction as to the programming for children with the complex disorder of stuttering.