Amy Rowley Case Summary

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Amy Rowley was an elementary school student who lost her hearing due to a childhood disease. Amy was an excellent lip reader and had minimal residual hearing. Amy was to attend Furnace Woods Elementary School in the Hendrick Hudson Central School District in New York, so Amy’s parents met with the principal to discuss services that may be required by Amy during school. Both the school principal and Amy’s parents agreed that she would be placed in the general classroom setting during her kindergarten year and she would be provided with the necessary services to complete her work. The school principal informed Amy’s parents that she would participate in a trial period using a wireless hearing aid that helped by amplifying spoken words. Amy was …show more content…

District Court in September and October of 1979. The district court’s judge reversed the decision by the Commissioner of Education ordering the school district to provide a sign language interpreter for Amy. The judge’s decision was based on the fact that he school had failed to provide Amy with an appropriate education to reach her full potential. The district court judge concluded that Amy may not be learning as much as she should due to her disability, and that is why an interpreter should be provided for her. This decision was made by the court because the definition of “appropriate education” is to be decided by the courts and hearing officers since it is not clearly defined by the EHCA. The school district appealed the district court’s decision and the case moved on to the United States Court of Appeals in May of 1980. Their decision upheld the decision made by the district court. The Court of Appeals determined that Amy had not been given the same opportunities as her peers therefore, she should be provided with a sign language interpreter. The school district appealed the court’s ruling to the United States Supreme Court in December of 1980. In June 29, 1982, the Supreme Court ruled that the Hendrick Hudson School District had provided an appropriate education that met Amy’s

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