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Civil Rights Movement
The Civil Rights Movement refers to the period of time in American history that led to the beginning of equal rights for all people. Typically, the Civil Rights Movement is referred to in terms of racial civil rights. However, disability rights activists viewed this as an opportunity to work with other minorities in order to increase many minorities' legal rights. -
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
Brown v. Board of Education is a landmark case that established that separate schools are, by definition, not equal. Typically this case is referred to in reference to racial civil rights, but this also opened the doors for the deinstitutionalization and equal educational opportunities for people with disabilities. The racial Civil Rights Movement and the Disability Rights Movement are deeply connected throughout American history. -
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504)
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. Specifically, Section 504 ensures that agencies that receive federal funding must enact reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. In the classroom, this may include supports in the classroom, such as allowing a student to type assignments, or allowing for an interpreter in a class for a student with disabilities. These accommodations may be permanent or temporary. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act (PL 94-142)
PL 94-142 was the first law that ensured free and appropriate public education for people with disabilities, and the institution of related services that meet each child's unique needs. It also ensured the rights of parents were protected. It also provided funding to states to assist in establishing these programs. -
School Committee of Burlington v. Massachusetts Department of Education
This case ensured that parents could receive monetary reimbursement for private school tuition from public funds if the school is unable to or unwilling to serve a student with disabilities. -
Honig v. Doe
Honig v. Doe is a Supreme Court case that established that a student may not be denied education (suspended indefinitely) to a student with disabilities, even for repetitive disruptive behavior. If the school board fails to provide services for students with disabilities, the state must provide services directly to the students. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
IDEA was the reauthorization of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. This established traumatic brain injury and autism to the disability categories. It also required that the IEP must include a plan to help the student transition into life after school, including where they will live, job training, and leisure skills. -
Sacramento City Unified School District v. Rachel H
Sacramento City Unified School District v. Rachel H. was a case that explored the meaning of least restrictive environment. This established four elements that should be considered when determining a student's placement (educational benefits, non-educational benefits, impact of student on teacher and other students, cost of aids). -
No Child Left Behind Act
This federal educational reform law held schools accountable for how much a student achieved during their time there. This increased at the amount of standardized testing for all students. Students who received special education often had to take the exams. As the law penalized schools who did not achieve "enough" improvement, thus penalizing schools with high percentages of students with disabilities, and the students themselves. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA)
IDEIA further expounds upon IDEA and the requirements of special education students. This tried to rectify the fact that, prior to this, IDEA influenced teachers to misidentify black students as having disabilities. It also required that school districts create performance goals that work in parallel to those of students with out disabilities. -
Perez v. Sturgis Public Schools
This recent case explored the interaction between ADA and IDEA in seeking monetary compensation for lack of services in the educational setting. The court decided when seeking for compensation, students do not necessarily need to proceed through the IDEA due process, but may also seek compensation through ADA independently.