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BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION
The Brown V. Board of Education case paved the way to further the equal rights of all people, regardless of disability to be able to have a right to public education. -
JFK to Combat Mental Retardation
President John F. Kennedy and a group of experts developed a plan to support and gather new resources for Special Education. The plan was known as "A National Plan to Combat Mental Retardation." Kennedy then created the Maternal and Child Health and Mental Retardation Planning Act in which $265 million in federal aid was given in support of programs for the mentally retarded. -
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) was signed into office by President Lyndon B. Johnson. -
THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964
THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 was signed in office by President Lyndon B. Johnson. This act ruled against major forms of discrimination against African Americans and women, which later helped to eliminate voter separation at the polls. -
PENNSYLVANIA ASSOCIATION FOR RETARDED CHILDREN (PARC) V. THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
In the case of Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Citizens (PARC) against the State of Pennsylvania, the right of children with mental retardation to a public education in the state of Pennsylvania was established. -
THE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ASSISTANCE AND BILL OF RIGHTS ACT
This act created a "bill of rights" for individuals with developmental disabilities, funded services for individuals with developmental disabilities, added a new funding authority for university affiliated facilities, and established a system of protection and advocacy organizations in each state. -
THE EDUCATION FOR ALL HANDICAPPED CHILDREN ACT
President Gerald Ford created this act and it was designed to mandate a free appropriate public education for all children with disabilities in a state, regardless of the nature or severity of the child's disability (Part B of the Education of the Handicapped Act). -
HOWARD S. V. FRIENDSWOOD INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
The first lawsuit under Section 504 produced the second federal court decision in the country. -
BOARD OF EDUCATION OF HENDRICK HUDSON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT V. ROWLEY
This is the first special education case to make it to the U.S. Supreme Court. The court rulted that the students who qualify for special education services must have access to public school programs that meet their needs, and that the programs must be supported by services that enable students to benefit from instruction. This ruling gave lower courts standards to follow when deciding what adds up to free and appropriate public education. -
THE HANDICAPPED CHILDREN'S PROTECTION ACT
This act overturned a Supreme Court decision and authorizes courts to award reasonable attorneys fees to parents who prevail in due process proceedings and court actions under part B of the Education of the Handicapped Act. Additionally, this act provided that the Education of the Handicapped Act does not preempt existing legislation such as the Rehabilitation Act. -
DANIEL R.R. V. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
This court case included a student with Down's Syndrom that was denied by the school system placement in the regular education classroom because of his disability. -
THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
The ADA is a wide-ranging civil rights law that prohibits, under certain circumstances, discrimination based on disability. In this law, disability is defined as, "a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity." -
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
Formerly known as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, this act governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education, and related services to children with disabilities. It addresses the educational needs of children with disabilities from birth to age 18 or 21 in cases that involve 14 specified categories of disability (Ex. traumatic brain injury and autisim). Supplemental funding for state and local programs were afforded by this act. -
THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1997
The reauthorization of IDEA was viewed as an opportunity to review, strengthen, and improve IDEA to better educate children with disabilities and enable them to achieve a quality education. -
PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION ON EXCELLENCE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION (PCESE)
President George Bush established a Commission on Excellence in Special Education to collect information and study issues related to Federal, State, and local special education programs with the goal of recommending policies for improving the education performance of students with disabilities. -
NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT OF 2001
One of the main components of the modern day educational system, this act was signed into law in 2002. The Act requires states to develop assessments in basic skills to be given to all students in certain grades, if those states are to receive federal funding for schools. The Act does not assert a national achievement standard; standards are set by each individual state. All students, including students with disabilities, are to be proficient in math and reading by the year 2014. -
IDEA 2004 REINACTMENT/IMPROVEMENT ACT
This reinactment of the IDEA defined the purpose of special education. It clarifies Congress’ intended outcome for each child with a disability: students must be provided a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) that prepares them for further education, employment, and independent living. Special education and related services should be designed to meet the unique learning needs of eligible children with disabilities, preschool through age 21. -
AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT AMENDMENTS OF 2008
Deemed the "most significant disability legislation ever passed" by the National Council on Disibility, the ADA Amendments of 2008 revised the definition of “disability” to more broadly encompass impairments that substantially limit a major life activity. -
COURT AFFIRMS REIMBURSEMENT FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION
The Supreme Court ruled that parents of special-education students may seek government reimbursement for private school tuition, even if they have never received special-education services in public school. -
MORE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS
With the growing technology of the 21st century, special education students are not being left out. More and more technology is being used for students to communicate effectively in the classroom.
