Mr. I. v. Maine School Administrative District No. 55
United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
480 F.3d 1 (2007)
LI, a formerly high-achieving sixth-grade student at Maine School Administrative District No. 55 (defendant), began struggling academically and socially, developed sadness and anxiety, showed apparent self-inflicted wounds, and eventually attempted suicide by overdose before being diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. Despite medical recommendations that LI receive direct social-skills instruction, the school's pupil-evaluation team accepted her diagnosis but denied her an individualized education plan, finding her condition did not significantly affect her academic performance; a hearing officer affirmed, but the district court found LI did qualify as a student with a disability, and the district appealed.
Whether, under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, schools must provide special education and related services to students whose disabilities require them, without a further requirement that the disability substantially or significantly affect academic performance.