WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, BELIEVE: A. That students with disabilities have a fundamental civil right to equal education; and B. That Congress should enforce that right by strengthening I.D.E.A. not weakening it.

WE, THE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES OF THIS NATION, DEMAND:
1. Annual IEP’s with short-term benchmarks and objectives (MAINTAIN ACCOUNTABILITY, NOT BABYSITTING!) 2. Mandatory public input on all procedural changes, including paperwork (AMERICA IS, AFTER ALL, A DEMOCRACY, RIGHT?) 3. Mandatory Student Involvement at all Student IEP’s (NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US!) 4. Mandatory manifestation determinations. Don’t punish us for our disabilities (ZERO IN ON INTOLERANCE!) 5. The right to go to due process whenever we want (EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW!) 6. Eliminate labels as the requirement for services. Our needs aren’t “special” (LABEL JARS, NOT PEOPLE!) 7. Full funding of IDEA with all of the money going to ensure our right to equal education and not to other programs (SHOW US THE MONEY!) 8. The right to be recognized as the most important person in the IEP and Special Education process. Changes to I.D.E.A will impact a lot of people, but none more so than us! (OUR VOICES MUST BE HEARD!) and 9. Full enforcement of our civil rights and equal opportunity in education! (JUSTICE FOR ALL!)

We, the undersigned, REFUSE TO BE LEFT BEHIND! We demand that Congress maintain the integrity of I.D.E.A and ENFORCE OUR CIVIL RIGHTS!!