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Brown v. Board of Education
In 1954, the U.S Supreme Court ruled that the decision of "separate but equal" ruling was unconstitutional. Therefore, stating that segregation based on race was unlawful. Brown believed that since education is the greatest tool a person can use to become good citizens, discrimination is a hindrance to allowing the opportunity for people to become better. This decision was seen by special needs advocates to expand the rights of students with special needs. -
P.A.R.C. & Mills
In 1971 there was a case where the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was sued by the Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Citizens, now The Arc of Pennsylvania, over a law that gave public schools the authority to deny a free education to children who had reached the age 0f 8, yet had not reached the mental age of 5. This case was extremely important because it gives students with special needs rights to be treated fairly in spite of their disability. -
Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia
The court held that no child may be denied a public education because of "mental, behavioral, physical or emotional handicaps or deficiencies." The school system argued that it was not able to do so because of the lack of financial resources. Because of these arguments, the federal court passed a law that has come to be known as IDEA, individuals with disabilities education act. This guarantees a free appropriate public education for all children with disabilities. -
Board of Education v. Rowley
In 1982, a deaf student who was on task and well equipped to accomplish the work given parent asked for a sign language interpreter from the district to be used in all her classes. The school district refused due to its belief it was not "appropriate". The court ruled in favor of the school because children with disabilities were entitled to "access" to an education that provided an educational benefit. It is not the school district's job to maximize each disabled child's potential. -
Timothy W. v. Rochester, New Hampshire, School District
There was a young man by the name of Timothy W. who was so severely disabled that the school district deemed him so profoundly handicapped that he is not eligible for special education services if he cannot benefit from such education. The court ruled against the decision by the school district because it felt that severely disabled are the highest priority because of their profound disability. The ruling helped put in place OT, PT, SLP, AT, socialization, eating, dressing. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
This act stops and makes it unlawful to discriminate against someone due to their disability. It is parallel with the civil rights act of 1964. It requires employers to provide accommodations to employees with disabilities. -
Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
This act provides children by law the right to receive a free appropriate education based on his/her individual needs. The IEP is a plan put in place by parents, educators, and others to tailor an academic plan to ensure the child's academic success. -
References
1)Forte, J. History of Special Education: Important Landmark Cases
www.fortelawgroup.com/history-special-education important -landmark-cases) (2017).
2) Center for Parent Information & Resources (2017). IDEA-Individuals with disabilities act. www.parenthub.org
