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Brown v. Board of Education
This case brought forth the awareness of differences in children and set precedence for future inequality educational issues. It made people aware of the fact that if children couldn’t be segregated because of race maybe then they shouldn’t be excluded because of a disability. After this case great strides were made in the United States towards education reform and working towards equality for all students regardless of race and disabilities. It paved the way for students with disabilities to re -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) (Public Law 89-10)
“The primary purpose of ESEA was to help schools better serve the special educational needs of educationally deprived children.” (Crawford, 2011) It was passed as part of the War on Poverty. “Under this law special funding from Title I, was allocated to schools with high numbers of low income children to meet their educational needs.” The federal government was to protect and provide low income, disadvantaged students with equal access to public education. The ESEA Act also established the free -
Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children (PARC) v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
This case had a deep impact on the education of students with disabilities. Based on the ruling of this case the right to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) for all children with disabilities was established. It also stated that children with disabilities were to be given an individualized education and were to be placed in the least restrictive environment. -
Vocational Rehabilitation Act (VRA) (Public Law 93-112, Section 504)
The Rehabilitation Act prevents any program or activity, public or private using federal funds from discriminating against anyone who has a disability solely based on the disability. This includes educational entities, employers and social and health services. It opens up a variety of opportunities for children and adults with disabilities and allows for accommodations and assistance as needed by the individual. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA) (Public Law 94-142, Part B)
Before P.L. 94-142 was passed there were many cases where children with disabilities were denied a public education. With the pass of the Education for All Handicapped Act which is known as the mainstreaming law came a number of provisions for those with disabilities such as Free Appropriate Public Education, due process rights, IEP’s and least restrictive environments. -
Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments (Public Law 99-457)
This was an amendment to the P.L. 94-142 which extended the purpose of the Education of the Handicapped Act to expand services to children who have disabilities birth to five years of age. It included items such as a free and appropriate public education to children with disabilities from ages 3-5, the establishment of early intervention programs for children with disabilities from birth to 2 and the development of an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) for families with children with disa -
Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA)
The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) was an amendment to P.L. 94-142. With the new amendment came expanded services for those with disabilities as well as the types of disabilities covered. IDEA requires that all children with disabilities have an Individualized Education Plan, be placed in the Least Restrictive Environment and provided with a Free and Appropriate Public Education. It also includes provisions for due process and confidentiality for both the student and their parents. IDE
