-
Creation of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
This organization was created by Elizabeth E. Farrell and a group of teachers and is still the primary professional organization for special educators. This organizations helped pave the way for the field of special education. Currently, they advocate for appropriate government laws, set standards of practice, and provide necessary supports for special educators. -
Brown v. Board of Education
This was a landmark case which overturned Plessy v. Ferguson stating, "Separate is not equal." Although this court case was meant to bring attention to racial segregation in the United States. However, it also brought attention to special education vs. general education students. This sparked the formation of several advocacy groups to help inform the general public about the need for special education programs. -
Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children v. /////commonwealth of Pennsylvania (PARC v. Penn)
This law states that students with disabilities should be placed in publicly funded schools that meet their individual educational needs based upon a thorough evaluation. This impacted special education by no longer putting students with disabilities into separate schools. -
Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia
This law made it illegal for D.C. Board of Education to deny any student classified as "exceptional" (which included individuals with mental or learning disabilities and those with behavioral issues) access to a publicly funded educational opportunity. This impacted special education by ensuring that all students have access to publicly funded education and schools cannot be denied public education on the grounds of being classified as "exceptional." -
The Rehabilitation Act - Section 504
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act provides protection from discrimination for individuals with disabilities and special needs. This law includes the Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). This paved the way for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act (PL 94-142)
This act ensured that all students with disabilities are educated in public schools. This law includes Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), providing special education services from ages 3-21, due process, Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), and supplemental services. This really created the foundation for how we know special education programs to look like today. -
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law by George W. Bush. ADA ensures that people with special needs will have the same rights within the school and work settings. The ADA also states that individuals with disabilities cannot be discriminated against in schools, the work place, transportation, and public places. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was signed into law by George W. Bush. This law includes: FAPE, LRE, evaluation, parent/student participation, and procedural safeguards for participants. -
No Child Left Behind
This was signed into law by George W. Bush. In this law it is stated that all students should be proficient in the areas of math and reading by 2014. There was some push back from states that did not want to be included in this law. Some school were found to have falsified reports while other schools reported accurate results, even when their students were not meeting proficiency. This affects all students in general and special education. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA)
This revision of IDEA included a new provision requiring that all special education, related services, supplemental aids, and any services outlined in a student's Individualized Education Plan (IEP) need to be based on peer-reviewed research. It also included that periodic progress reports giving details about progress on IEP goals be necessary. It also included due process and student discipline. Another requirement outlines is a summary of academic and functional performance (PLAAPFP). -
The Assistive Technology Re-authorization Act
The re-authorization of this act helped ensure that states were to provide appropriate assistive technology (AT) to individuals with disabilities, which will allow them to more fully participate in education, employment, and daily activities with their communities. Even though this program has been in existence, the new legislation makes significant strides in providing appropriate assistive technology to all individuals with disabilities that need AT. -
Rosa's Law
This was signed into law by Barack Obama. This law states that terms such as "mental retardation" and "mentally retarded" are removed from federal health, education and labor policy. It also states that they are to be replaced with people first language such as “individual with an intellectual disability” and “intellectual disability.” This is a huge milestone for special education and individuals with disabilities. This helped advocate, respect, and listen to individuals with disabilities.