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Brown v. Board of Education
Ruling to desegregate schools laid the foundation for future laws requiring access to education for students with disabilities. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) (Public Law 89-10)
Supports many initiatives that help low-income families access high-quality education programs Includes provisions for free and reduced lunches and additional teachers in disadvantaged communities
Applies to children who need additional support to benefit from public school education programs -
Vocational Rehabilitation Act (VRA) (Public Law 93-112, Section 504)
Defines handicapped person Defines appropriate education Prohibits discrimination against students with disabilities in federally funded programs -
Educational Amendments Act (Public Law 93-380)
Grants federal funds to states for programming for exceptional learners Provides the first federal funding of state programs for students who are gifted and talented Grants students and families the right of due process in special education placement -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA) (Public Law 94-142, Part B)
Known as the Mainstreaming Law Requires states to provide a free and appropriate public education for children with disabilities (ages 5 to 18) Requires individualized education programs (IEPs) First defined least restrictive environment -
Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments (Public Law 99-457)
Requires states to extend free and appropriate education to children with disabilities (ages 3 to 5) Establishes early intervention programs for infants and toddlers with disabilities (ages birth to 2 years) -
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (Public Law 101-336)
Prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in the private sector Protects equal opportunity to employment and public services, accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications Defines disability to include people with AIDS -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (Public Law 101-476)
Renames and replaces P.L. 94-142 (EAHCA)
Establishes “people-first” language for referring to people with disabilities
Extends special education services to include social work, assistive technology, and rehabilitation services
Extends provisions for due process and confidentiality for students and parents
Adds two new categories of disability: autism and traumatic brain injury
Requires states to provide bilingual education programs for students with disabilities -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (Public Law 105-17)
Requires that all students with disabilities continue to receive services, even if they have been expelled from school
Allows states to extend their use of the developmental delay category for students through age 9
Allows special education staff who are working in mainstream classrooms to assist general education students when needed
Requires a general education teacher to be a member of the IEP team
Limits the conditions under which attorneys can collect fees under IDEA -
The Assistive Technology Act
Maximizes the ability of people with disabilities to select, obtain, and use assistive technology. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) (Public Law 108-446)
Allows districts to use a response-to-intervention (RTI) model for determining whether a child has a specific learning disability, and no longer requires that a child have a severe discrepancy between achievement and intellectual ability to qualify (RTI is described in more detail later in this chapter)
Increases federal funds to provide early intervention services to students who do not need special education or related services -
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act
Establishes a clear national priority for the employment of people with disabilities.