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The Council for Exceptional Children
This organization consists of over 27,000 members and they include college students studying to become educators, as well as professors and parents who are all joining together for the sole purpose of working with children and adults with disabilities. This organization brings awareness and helps the needs of these people to learn more and learn how to assist them. -
Opening of the Psychiatric unit in Bradley Home (Hospital)
The treatment in this unit was psychodynamic, used to diagnose and open up to classify the different types of disabilities in special education children. This started to open up the conversation to people talking about and realizing that children that act differently weren't because of behavior, but because there was something deeper they needed and this unit could help. -
Brown v. Board of Education
The Supreme Court rules that school segregation by race was unconstitutional. This marks a huge milestone in history because it is the first time the federal government advocates for students experiencing the unfairness in schools because they are "different." -
Department of Public Welfare v. Haas
The Supreme Court ruled that the states education laws did not require a free education for students who were "feebleminded" or mentally deficient. They were not responsible for students who couldn't participate in a free public education because they were special eduction students. -
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) passed
ESEA was passed during President Johnson's presidency and it was used to ensure that students from disadvantaged backgrounds were able to receive the same free public education as every other student.The free and reduced lunch program was in affect because being hungry shouldn't be a reason students don't receive the same education. Programs for students with disabilities were improved. (https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/programs/education/elementary-and-secondary-education-act-of-1965/) -
PARC v Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
This act challenged the discrimination of children with mental disabilities in public schools. Pennsylvania state laws were allowed public schools to deny services to children “who have not attained a mental age of five years" by first grade. This settled quickly with the state having to provide public education to children with mental retardation. Link text -
Educational Ammendments Act
President Gerald Ford enacted the Educational Ammendments Act, which granted students and families the right of due process, where now parents didn't have to worry because they knew for a fact the state and public schools would have to honor their rights. This law also provided the first federal funding for students who are gifted. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA)
The EAHCA requires states to provide a free public education for all students. The main goal is for inclusion, to one day incorporate these students out of their special education classrooms and mainstream them into a regular classroom with students their age. This act incorporates IEP's which are Individual Education plans and everything they come with. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
IDEA provides a free public education to those students who have disabilities and also offers the special services and education based on their disability. Under IDEA, children from birth to the age of 2 years old, are able to have access to early intervention, while children from the age of 3 to 21 have access to special education as well as resources and services that they may need based on their disability. Link text -
No Child Left Behind (NCLB)
NCLB was put into affect to make sure every child, no matter their disability, has an equal opportunity to a public education. In this act, the Department of Education offers flexibility with funds to ensure students with disabilities are offered everything they need to be equal, also the flexibility to make sure they have access to the best schools no matter what their home school is, and with the use of standardized testing they monitor growth as well as decline. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA)
The IDEIA was enacted to ensure that students receive a free appropriate education and made revisions to IDEA. The goal of this law was to make sure that after they graduate, they are prepared to further their education and go to college, employment, as well as living and doing day to day tasks on their own. This act was important because it incorporated RTI to test children for their disability and diagnose it earlier on. The goal is to mainstream students with disabilities into the world. -
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
This act was signed by President Barack Obama to replace the No Child Left Behind Act. ESSA includes everything that NCLB does and additional opportunities for children who aren't making the process they should be. This act ensures that nothing is holding back a student with disabilities or low performance. This Act also ensures that if a student is in a school in their area that is not up to par with academic standards, they may be able to go to another school with higher academic performance.
