Federal Officials Extend Support for WA State Students with Disabilities

Federal officials say students with disabilities from Washington State can continue to receive help from public schools until they're 22-years-old.

THE RULING CHANGES FEDERAL LAW IN WASHINGTON STATE

The ruling from a federal appeals court changes the law that says the services stop at the end of a school year when they turn 21-years-old. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that cutting the students off at 21 is a violation of the federal law that deals with the education students with disabilities receive.

THE LAWSUIT WAS FILED BY SEATTLE LAW FIRMS AND NO APPEALS ARE EXPECTED

The lawsuit was filed in 2022 by a group of Seattle law firms, Cedar Law PLLC and Susman Godfrey LLP to help students with disabilities that needed services after they graduated. No appeals of the verdict are expected.

HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS NOT THOUSANDS WILL BE IMPACTED IN WA STATE

Only a small group of students in the state will see the change in law. The services extended beyond high school for the students include life skills and job skills training. Changes in the law have already been made in the state's of Connecticut, Rhode Island and Hawaii. The state of Michigan allows the students with disabilities to continue to receive services up to the age of 25.