Supreme Court Ruling for Students with Disabilities: What Happened?
On June 12, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling that significantly strengthens legal protections for students with disabilities. In a decision that applies nationwide, the Court determined that families can pursue claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) without first completing the administrative process required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)—as long as they are not seeking educational remedies.
In short, if a student’s rights under the ADA have been violated, such as through discrimination or denial of reasonable accommodations, families can go straight to court, even if they haven’t completed an IEP hearing process under IDEA.
ADA and IDEA Legal Rights: What’s the Difference?
- IDEA ensures students with disabilities receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), typically through an Individualized Education Program (IEP). It requires families to follow a multi-step administrative process to resolve disputes.
- ADA and Section 504 are civil rights laws that protect individuals with disabilities from discrimination in public institutions, including schools. These laws allow families to seek damages, including financial compensation, for harm caused by discriminatory actions.
- Before this ruling, families were often required to go through the IDEA process, even if their issue was about discrimination or non-educational harm. Now, that barrier has been lifted.
Legal Impact on Schools and Districts After the Supreme Court Ruling
This landmark ruling increases the legal exposure of schools, districts, and education service providers. Here’s how:
Greater Risk of ADA Lawsuits
Schools can now face direct legal action for violations of civil rights, separate from the IEP process.
Need for Full ADA Compliance
This ruling pushes schools to fully implement ADA and Section 504 accommodations, not to only rely on IEP procedures.
Faster Accountability
Families no longer need to wait through long administrative timelines to seek justice when their child’s rights have been violated.
What the Supreme Court Decision Means for ABA Providers
The Supreme Court ruling also has meaningful implications for ABA therapy providers working within schools or in collaboration with districts:
Clear Documentation Is Critical: Providers should ensure that all services, goals, and communications are documented in real-time.
Alignment With IEP Teams: Coordination with schools, special education directors, and case managers is more important than ever.
Family Advocacy Support: Providers may find themselves playing a larger role in supporting families who pursue civil rights claims or ADA-based complaints.
This ruling marks an important shift in how families can advocate for their children and how schools and providers must respond. It’s a clear reminder that Special Education Solutions protecting the rights of students with disabilities isn’t just a moral responsibility; it’s a legal one. With fewer barriers in place, families have more power to speak up, take action, and hold systems accountable. As expectations grow, so does the need for clear communication, solid documentation, and true collaboration between schools, providers, and caregivers.
ABA Toolbox helps ABA providers and school-based teams track student progress, document service delivery, and collaborate with IEP teams in one platform. With built-in compliance tools and easy-to-use reporting features, you can support data integrity, streamline documentation, and strengthen collaboration among your team to empower student success.