Adams ex rel. Adams v. Oregon

This appeal by parents of an autistic child being treated by school authorities under the provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq. (1996) (“IDEA” or “Act”), requires us to decide whether Appellants are entitled to reimbursement of expenses they incurred for professional services they engaged over and above the services funded by the state and the county educational service district. Appellants Dave and LiSandra Adams sought reimbursement for $1230.98 for materials and supplies used in furtherance of their child’s educational program; $3290.85 for expenses incurred in a training program for parents and therapists; $612.50 for educational therapist consultation between March 1996 and April 22, 1996; $1732.50 for consultation between April 22, 1996 and July 22, 1996; and $1500 for consultation between July 29, 1996 and September 16, 1996, for a total claim of $8366.83.

After an administrative hearing before the Oregon Department of Education, the hearing officer ruled that the costs associated with the private training, private employment of educational therapists and materials used for the child’s educational program “beyond that…