SC New York News

U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro (NY-19) announced that his Think DIFFERENTLY About Education Act has passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support. Since joining Congress, Rep. Molinaro has successfully passed seven standalone bills, 57 bipartisan measures, and had 12 measures signed into law. He was ranked the second most bipartisan member of Congress by the nonpartisan Lugar Center and is among the top five for most bills passed in Congress.

In an annual individualized education program (IEP) meeting, school staff and parents of a child with a disability meet to develop an educational plan for the student. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, parents have the right to bring a third-party advocate, such as a therapist, lawyer, or knowledgeable family member, to these meetings. However, many parents are not aware of this right. The Think DIFFERENTLY About Education Act requires K-12 schools to inform parents of their right to bring an advocate to IEP meetings.

Rep. Molinaro stated, “I launched Think DIFFERENTLY in 2015. Since then, we’ve grown from a local initiative to a national movement, and I’m proud to once again pass a bipartisan bill that advances the cause. The Think DIFFERNTELY About Education Act guides and empowers students with disabilities to access the resources they need to get a quality education.”

In 2015, Rep. Molinaro launched the ‘Think DIFFERENTLY’ initiative aimed at breaking down barriers for individuals with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities. In Congress, he has built on this effort by crafting and passing a package of bipartisan legislation that removes barriers in key areas of society for individuals with disabilities. The Think DIFFERENTLY About Education Act was part of this bipartisan legislative package.