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Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka
!The Supreme Court declared "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal" and violate the 14th Amendment of U.S. Constitution, which guarantees all citizens "equal protection of the laws." Even though this case involved race and not exceptionalities, this decision put into motion the view of education as a right that must be available to all on equal terms. Lead to Civil Rights Act-1964 and eventually inclusion of exceptional children into public schools. *Wood text -
Mills vs. Board of Education of the District of Columbia
This case was one of several that led to free and appropriate education for all students with disabilities and encouraged schools to adopt special education. Mills vs. Board of Education also declared rights for children with disabilities such as least restrictive environment, due process, deinstitutionalization, and the right to treatment.
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Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1973 (PL 93-112)
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Included the FIRST civil rights protections for individuals with disabilities, including the right to education. It mandates that no person with a disabilty can be excluded/denied benefits of any federally assisted program including public schools. It also requires those recipients to provide free appropriate public education (FAPE) to all qualified disabled persons. Regulations unfortunately not released until '77. Applies to those who may not qualify for special education. * Wood text -
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA PL 94-142)
!Mandated that children with disabilites (5-21 yrs) have access to free & appropriate public education (FAPE) regardless of costs or disability (zero reject). States had to provide: special education (3-21 yr) to students whose disability limited their education, related services that help the student benefit from SPED, FAPE, due process-which guards parental/SPED student rights, & the least restrictive environment where disabled students receive general education as much as possible. *Wood text -
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act-Part C
This amendment started the Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilites under the ammendments of Part H (now Part C). This made statewide early intervention programs available for children with disabilities under age 3.
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Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
EAHCA changes name to "Individuals with Disabilities Education Act" (IDEA). Other changes include: mandated transition services, stronger requirements for least restrictive environments (LRE), and the addition of autism and traumatic brain injury as exceptionalities.
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The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990
!ADA prevents discrimination in employment, public services including transportation, telecommunications, and public accomodations such as restaurants. This act affects how schools are designed and remodeled and it requires that students with disabilities be integrated to the maximum extent possible. Beyond school, it provides employment protections for disabled individuals.
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No Child Left Behind (NCLB)-2001
NCLB requires that states develop standards for students to be tested in key academic areas relating to those standards. Schools are also required to set goals for student and school proficiency and provide annual yearly progress documentation. Children with with severe disabilities (up to 1%) are given alternative assessment methods.
*Woods text
