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Council for Exceptional Children
CEC was organized by educators attending the summer session at Teachers College, Columbia University, and their faculty members on August 10, 1922. The Council began with 12 members. Elizabeth E. Farrell was the Founder. CEC was founded to inform parents, teachers, and administration about the education of individuals with disabilities. It is committed to helping improve the education for all disabled people by advising policies, educating the public, and setting professional standards. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
Brown vs. Board of Education aimed to end legal segregation in public schools based on race, the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling paved the road to equalize public education opportunities for all U.S. citizens (Royster). The case lead to the 1964 Civil Rights Act, 1965 Voting Rights Act, and paved the way for further cases such as Mills v. Board.
https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/brown-v-board-of-education-of-topeka -
The Department of Public Welfare vs. Haas
Although the U.S. was in the midst of the civil rights movement, students with disabilities were still not protected by rulings such as Brown v Board. The Department of Public Welfare v Haas case ruled that the state of Illinois did not have to provide a free public education to students with disabilities because they were considered "feeble minded". -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act established in 1965, "became the statutory basis upon which early special education legislation was drafted" (The legislative history). The ESEA did not make it law to educate students with disabilities (Peterson, 2007). More so, it did give grants to state schools and institutions that "committed to the education of children with disabilities" and it would also lead to various amendments important to special education. -
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a national law that protects qualified individuals from discrimination based on their disabilities. Section 504 prohibits organizations and employees from excluding or denying individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to receive program benefits and services. -
The Education For All Handicapped Children Act
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act was enacted by the United States Congress in 1975. This act required all public schools accepting federal funds to provide equal access to education for children with physical and mental disabilities. Public schools were required to evaluate children with disabilities and create an educational plan with parent input that would emulate as closely as possible the educational experience of non-disabled students. -
National Center for Learning Disabilities
Foundation for Children with Learning Disabilities expanded its mission and scope of work, and changed its name to the National Center for Learning Disabilities.The operation was to improve the lives of all people with learning and attention issues. The mission embodies a society in which individuals possess the academic, social and emotional skills needed to succeed in school, at work and in life. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
"The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 was a landmark in disability rights legislation" because it extended the rights beyond that of Section 504 (Woods, 2006). This act extends the rights of people with disabilities into society by ensuring equal rights regarding accessibility, accommodations, employment, and transportation, which requires schools to ensure accessibility and accommodations "to those with mobility, health, or visual impairments (Woods, 2006). -
Individuals with Disabilities Act
The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) replaces the Education of the Handicapped Act. IDEA states that children with disabilities are entitled to a free appropriate public education regardless of ability. IDEA also strives not only to grant equal access to students with disabilities, but also to provide additional special education services and procedural safeguards. -
No Child Left Behind Act
The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), which was an ESEA reauthorization, focused mainly on key areas including science, mathematics, and language arts (Woods, 2006). This includes the requirement to have all students to be proficient in reading and math by 2014 (Peterson, 2007). States are required to submit annual yearly progress documentation and there are repercussions to those schools that are not showing annual yearly progress on a regular basis (Woods, 2006).
