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Brown v. Board of Education
This well-known court case, the Landmark Supreme Court case, declared that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional. This case was the beginning of the groundwork for including students with disabilities by providing equal educational opportunities for all. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
This act has provided federal funding for primary and secondary education and included provisions for supporting students with disabilities and marking educational policy shifts. -
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
This legislation act prohibited discrimination against individuals with disabilities in federal financial assistance programs, establishing civil rights protections for students with disabilities. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA)
This act is also known as Public Law 94-142, this law was created to mandate free and appropriate public education (FAPE) for all children with disabilities and required schools to develop Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). -
Assistive Technology Act of 1988 reauthorized in 1994,1998, and 2004
This Act is a federal law that helps people with disabilities have access to and use assistive technology. The main goal of this act is to make sure all individuals with disabilities can fully participate in education, work, and daily activities on the same level as others in their community. Examples of assistive technology are screen readers that read words aloud for those with visual impairments. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
This law was made to reauthorize and amend EAHCA, emphasizing the importance of inclusion and providing additional rights to students with disabilities, including transition services for older students. -
IDEA Amendments
This is an amendment that strengthened the requirements for inclusion, ensuring that students with disabilities participate in general education classes and settings whenever appropriate. -
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
This act was created to improve educational outcomes for all students, including those with disabilities, providing accountability and standardized testing for all. -
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
This act was created to continue the focus on inclusion and support for students with disabilities while providing states with more flexibility in education policy. -
COVID-19 Pandemic
Special education and inclusive education changed a lot during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools closed in March 2020, teachers moved to online learning, which disrupted special education services and worried about students with disabilities losing skills. To help, the U.S. Department of Education gave guidance to schools on how to provide services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), including temporary changes.