-
First American School for the Disabled
Gallaudet opens the Connecticut Asylum for the Education of Deaf and Dumb Persons. It showed Americans that the deaf could be educated. It was a turning point that caught the attention of lawmakers, which brought funding, and the beginning of grassroots movements to diversify education and bring it to the disadvantaged. -
Mills vs Board of Education of The District of Columbia
This case made it so that all students, regardless of disability, could not be denied a publicly supported education. It required the state to provide special education to such students. It expanded on the PARC vs Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which made the state unable to deny public education for a child with intellectual disabilities. -
Vocational Rehabilitation Act
The Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 defines an individual with a disability as someone who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such impairment or is regarded as having such an impairment. Programs conducted by federal agencies or receiving federal financial assistance may not discriminate against people with disabilities. It also provides for reasonable accommodation and defines appropriate education. -
Educational Amendments Act
This Educational Amendments Act of 1974 was meant to amend the Elementary and Secondary Act of 1965. It provides federal funding for state programs for both exceptional learners and students who are gifted and talented. The right of due process is also granted to students and families in special education placement. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA)
This is the law that first defined the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). There are multple levels and the goal is to have students with disabilities to spend as much time as possible in the general education classroom with peers who do not receive special education services. It is also known as the mainstreaming law and requires free and public education for children with disabilities. It requires individual education programs (IEP). -
PAVE: first parent center
In 1979, six locations across the country, parents received training in special education law. These parents were to share the information throughout the state. A clearing house called Closer Look provided the training and later became a part of the National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY). Today, the Center for Parent Information and Resources(CPIR) provides free information and resources for parents and professionals through [parentcenterhub.org] -
Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments
This amendment brings about the early intervention program for infants and toddlers with disabilities from birth to age 2. It also requires states to provide free and appropriate education to children with disabilities aged 3-5. There were developments at this time about the importance of early life experiences and documentation of the benefits of early intervention and preschool services. -
IDEA replaces the EAHCA
Firstly, this law changes the way we refer to people with disabilities by using "person-first" language. Special education services now include social work, assistive technologies and rehabilitation services. It also includes provisions for due process and confidentiality for students and parents. Autism and traumatic brain injury are added to the list of disabilities as well. Transition services and individualized transition programs for children up to age 16 must also be provided. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
This public law helps disabled people in the private sector. People cannot be discriminated against because of their disability and must have an equal opportunity for employment and services as long as the person is qualified for the position they are applying for regardless of the disability. It also adds AIDS as a qualifying disability that cannot be discriminated against by anyone providing services to the public. [ADA.gov] -
IDEA
IDEA requires that services continue for students with disabilities even if the student is expelled. The developmental delay category extends to age 9. Schools also have to take more responsibility for giving students with disabilities access to the general education classroom. It allows special ed staff to help in the general ed classroom and adds the general education teacher to the IEP team and IEP must include behavior plans. States must offer mediation and limits attorneys fees. -
No Child Left Behind Act
The NCLB act requires all students to take statewide assessments and the schools must show adequate yearly progress or be restructured and improved to meet state standards. This increased accountability includes all students regardless of disability. It also gives parents school choice as an opportunity to attend a school with higher performance records. As long as states, school districts and schools are remaining accountable, they have the right to use federal funding where needed. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act
This law promotes the inclusion of students with disabilities in the general education classroom or Least Restrictive Environment. It allows Response to Intervention model for determining disability and raises standards for special education licensure. It includes free and appropriate education, the child find program, nondiscriminatory evaluation, due process, confidentiality, services up to age 21 and for IEP's to be written implemented and reviewed. [https://youtu.be/aSZMZz48z-w]
