SCH CD-DISABLE HISTORY/AWARE

Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB5398

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB5398

Introduced 2/10/2026, by Rep. Daniel Didech

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/27-545

was 105 ILCS 5/27-23.8

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. In the
provisions concerning disability history and awareness, requires a school
district to also provide instruction on disability awareness and inclusion
education. Provides that the instruction on disability history and
awareness shall include: (1) grade-appropriate content on understanding
different disabilities and accessible practices; (2) peer inclusion
training and collaborative classroom projects promoting interaction
between students with and without disabilities; (3) hands-on workshops;
(4) school-wide programming during March; and (5) recognition systems for
students, classes, and schools demonstrating exemplary inclusion
practices.
LRB104 16440 LNS 29832 b
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT
MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

HB5398
LRB104 16440 LNS 29832 b
1

AN ACT concerning education.

2

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3
represented in the General Assembly:

4

Section 5.
The School Code is amended by changing Section
5
27-545 as follows:

6

(105 ILCS 5/27-545)

(was 105 ILCS 5/27-23.8)
7

Sec. 27-545.
Disability history and awareness.
8

(a) A school district shall provide instruction on
9
disability history, people with disabilities, and the
10
disability rights movement
and disability awareness and
11
inclusion education that equips all students with practical
12
skills for peer support and interaction
. Instruction may be
13
included in those courses that the school district chooses.
14
This instruction must be founded on the principle that all
15
students, including students with disabilities, have the right
16
to exercise self-determination. When possible, individuals
17
with disabilities should be incorporated into the development
18
and delivery of this instruction. This instruction may be
19
supplemented by knowledgeable guest speakers from the
20
disability community. A school board may collaborate with
21
community-based organizations, such as centers for independent
22
living, parent training and information centers, and other
23
consumer-driven groups, and disability membership

HB5398
- 2 -
LRB104 16440 LNS 29832 b
1
organizations in creating this instruction.
2

(a-5) Instruction under this Section shall include:
3

(1) grade-appropriate content on understanding
4

different disabilities and accessible practices;
5

(2) peer inclusion training and collaborative
6

classroom projects promoting interaction between students
7

with and without disabilities;
8

(3) hands-on workshops, including simulation
9

activities, assistive technology demonstrations, and peer
10

interaction exercises;
11

(4) school-wide programming during March, the National
12

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, featuring
13

student presentations, guest speakers, and family
14

engagement; and
15

(5) recognition systems for students, classes, and
16

schools demonstrating exemplary inclusion practices.

17

(b) The State Board of Education may prepare and make
18
available to all school boards resource materials that may be
19
used as guidelines for the development of instruction for
20
disability history and awareness under this Section.
21

(c) Each school board shall determine the minimum amount
22
of instructional time required under this Section.
23

(d) The regional superintendent of schools shall monitor a
24
school district's compliance with this Section's curricular
25
requirement during his or her annual compliance visit.
26
(Source: P.A. 104-391, eff. 8-15-25.)

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