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   The U.S. Senate's Subcommittee on Disability Policy, chaired by freshman
Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), has announced a timetable for the reauthorization
of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.  Basically, the
Subcommittee plans to immediately pursue a one year, simple extension of
IDEA's discretionary programs (Parts C through H0.  A one year extension
would authorize IDEA through September 30, 1996

The Subcommittee had two days of information hearings in May to address the
following themes:  promoting learning; measuring progress; helping teachers;
characteristics and consequences of effective service delivery;
family-responsive schools; and funding for innovation and collaboration.  The
hearings would be followed by extensive staff briefings during June.  A bill
to reauthorize IDEA would be introduced in fall, followed by another round of
hearings, subcommittee and full committee mark-ups and a final vote by the
full Senate by Thanksgiving.

The subcommittee is also planning a hearing on the positive effects of the
Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, that law's fifth anniversary.


This was taken from a column from the Chapter Information Package from the
Autism Society of America.