-
Brown v. Board of Education
The original intent of the Brown verses Board of Education court case sought to and succeeded in proving that racially segregated schools established under the "seperate but equal" premise were unconstitutional. Federal government invovlement and advocation for equal rights of students in this public education court case served as a foundation on which future legislation for disabilities education could be built. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (P.L. 89-10)
The ESEA of 1965 ensured that all students were provided with the opportunity to have equal access to public education systems. The act alloted funding for the establishment of programs such as free and reduced lunch systems that ensured students reach their fullest academic potential regardless of economic disadvantages. The ESEA also established a system of grants with which states were encourgage to expand or create school programs and supports for students with disabilities. -
Education of the Handicapped Act (P.L. 91-230)
The Education of the Handicapped Act was a revision of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. With its enactment, state established programs recieved provisions to ensure that a continuation of support for individuals with disabilities would be made possible. Children with disabilites were were provided with more opportunities to attend school. -
Vocational Rehabilitation Act (VRA)
This landmark act protects individuals with disabilities from being discriminated againt in public education systems, employment industries, and places and organizations that utilize any means of federal funding. The VRA establishes written definitions of of the terms appropriate education and handicapped person. With its encactment individuals with disabilities were provided more and greater access to sources of higher education, employment, and other federally funded services. -
Educational Ammendments Act (P.L. 93-380)
This act made ammendments to the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act. With these ammendments federal funding was granted to states to develop programing to help meet the special needs of exceptional learners including those who have gifts and talents. The act provides special education students and their families with the right of due process in terms of special education placement procedures. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA, P.L. 94-142, Part B)
EAHCA made it a requirement for federally funded schools to provide a free and appropriate education to all students regardless of disabilities. Appropriate educations were to be provided to students in accordance with their educational placement in the least restrictive environment. The act also mandated the utilization of individual education plans (IEPs) to ensure that the special needs of students with disabilities would be met in order for them to reach their fulles educational potential. -
Education of the Handicapped Act Ammendments (Public Law 99-457)
This act made ammendments to the 1975 Education for All Handicapped Children Act. Previous legislation mandated that a free and appropriate education be made available to all children ages 5 to 18 regardless of disabilities. Ammendments set forth in this act extended age range in which free and appropriate education was to be made available to include children ages 3 to 5. Interventional programs were also created to offer support to the earliest of learners with disabilities ages birth to 2. -
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA, P.L. 101-336)
The Americans with Disabilities Act made it unlawful for individuals with disabilities to be discriminated againts in the private sector (places and organizations that are not federally funded). It provided individuals with disabilities equal access to sources of employment opportunities. It also required that accomodations be made to ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to forms of communication, transportation, and other sources of public services. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, P.L. 101-476)
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act marked a tranformational moment in special education legislation. The act sought to create a means of language that would reference the learner first as opposed to the disability. It also validated the inclusion of traumatic brain injury and autism as forms of disabilities. States were mandated to establish educational programs that would work to prepare students for their transition into real world opportunities outside of the classroom. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, P.L. 105-17)
This act offered ammendments and expansion to previously established IDEA legislation which revolutionized the notion of inclusive education. With its enactment greater responsibility was placed on schools to provide students with disabilities more opportunities and support in general education environments and populations. Provisions of the act also made it possible for special education staff to help general education students in the classroom. -
No Child Left Behind Act 2001 (NCLB)
The No Child Left behind Act sought to improve student performance by increasing the level of accountability schools, districts, and states were held to in ensuring that a scientifically measurbale degree of adequate yearly progress was made by all students. The act encouraged more and greater focus to be placed on the development of inclusive education practices as all students, including those with disabilities, would be held to the same standards and methods utilized in measuring progress. -
WORKS REFERENCED
All resource information used to complete this timeline was taken from Vaughn, S., & Bos, C. S. (2013). Special Education and Inclsive Schooling. Teaching students who are exceptional, diverse, and at risk in the general education classroom (Sixth ed., pp. 3-37). Upper Saddl River, New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc.
