The greatest challenge to parents and educators can be properly identifying and developing effective educational plans for special needs students. Academic difficulties, challenges with social skills and persisting maladaptive behavior possibly exhibited by students with special education needs, can be misinterpreted and considered as defiance, lack of motivation, socially maladjusted behavior and/or laziness. Unfortunately, such mis-identification can lead to improper punishment such as an expulsion, instead of an appropriate education.

In 1975, Congress enacted legislation to protect the educational rights of children who are disabled. These laws were created to ensure that children with special educational needs are identified as early as possible and receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE). It is the responsibility of the school system to identify and serve children with special needs.