Understanding Your Rights

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The ADA, enacted in 1990, is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all aspects of public life, including employment, education, transportation, and access to places that are open to the public. It’s purpose is to make sure that people with disabilities are given the same opportunities as everyone else. 

Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that provides parents/guardians the right to access their child’s educational records, the right to ask to have the records amended, and the right to have some control in the sharing of personally identifiable information from education records. When a student turns 18 years old, or enters a postsecondary institution at any age, the rights under FERPA transfer from the parents/guardians to the student (“eligible student”).

Patient Confidentiality Rights (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996)

The Privacy Rule generally requires most health care providers and health plans to provide individuals, upon request, with access to the protected health information (PHI) about them or their dependent children. This includes the right to inspect or obtain a copy, or both, of the PHI, as well as to direct the health care provider to transmit a copy to a designated person or entity of the individual’s choice. Individuals have a right to access this PHI for as long as the information is maintained regardless of the date the information was created; whether the information is maintained in paper or electronic systems onsite, remotely, or is archived; or where the PHI originated (e.g., whether the covered entity, another provider, the patient, etc.).

AEAs Discrimination Policy

It is the policy of Iowa’s AEAs not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetics, pregnancy, disability, military or veteran status, parental, family or marital status. Each AEA has a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination.

Iowa’s AEAs are committed to providing all children and students, families, employees and individuals with a safe and civil environment in which all members of the community are treated with dignity and respect. Bullying and/or harassment of or by staff and volunteers is against federal, state, and local policy and is not tolerated by the Board. Bullying and/or harassing behavior can seriously disrupt the ability of employees to maintain a safe and civil environment, and the ability of children and students to learn and succeed. Therefore, it is the policy of the state and the Iowa’s AEAs that staff and volunteers other individuals who work to provide services throughout Iowa shall not engage in bullying or harassing behavior during work, on Agency property, or at any Agency function or Agency-sponsored activity, including service to local school districts.