Education students participate in 'Rud's Rap'

Rud Turnbull, who helped to write the special education laws that protect students with disabilities today, and who is also a parent of a child with exceptional needs, visited EDU 342 class – Foundations of Special Education taught by Abby Ampuja, instructor in the School of Education.

​Turnbull shared what he has dubbed “Rud’s Rap,” a catchy jiingle to help students learn the six principles of the Individuals with Disabilities Act. The EDU 342 students had a number of questions and connections which they shared with him. Turnbull even convinced one brave soul, Molly Kearns, to come up and lead the class in singing “Rud’s Rap!”

The six principles of IDEA include:

1. Zero Reject (FAPE)
2. Non-Discriminatory Evaluation (NDE)
3. Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
4. Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
5. Procedural Due Process (PDP)
6. Parent Participation (PP)

“Rud’s Rap” goes something like this …

“I’ve got the right to an FAPE
and an NDE and IEP in the LRE
I’ve got the right to PDP
I’ve even got the right to PP”

In addition to sharing his “Rud’s Rap,” Turnbull also spoke about his experiences as a parent of a child with disabilities and as an educator and researcher in special education law. Turnbull has served on the faculty at both The University of Kansas and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He and his wife, Ann, founded the Beach Center on Disability at the University of Kansas and are tireless advocates for both individuals with disabilities and their families.