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Brown v Board of Education
This court case decision that desegregated schools and allowed children of different minority groups to have equal access to education and other environments. -
Public Law 88-164
PL 88-164 was passed by President Kennedy making funds for training people to work with kids with special needs. It also made funds for research kids with IDD and deafness. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
This act was signed into law by President Johnson and was aiming to improve educational opportunities for kids all across the US. Its purpose was to increase funding to public schools, starting with school districts with a large amount of low income families. -
Willowbrook Documentary
This documentary brought to light the terrible living conditions of institutions which cared for people with special needs. They humanized these people that were being treated inhumanely which lead to large-scale changes in the system and how we treat them. -
Rehabilitation Act: Section 504
The act overall serves to improve the quality of life for all people with disabilities, including helping those with severe disabilities be served and giving them vocational opportunities. Section 504, however, expands educational opportunities for kids with disabilities by allowing for reasonable accommodations and assistance. -
PL 94-142: Education for All Handicapped Children Act
Even though it was signed into law in 1975, it did not go into effect until 1977. It was written so that students with disabilities have "a free appropriate public education," emphasizing that their education was appropriate and would accommodate the student. It has 6 key provisions to follow:
1 Zero reject
2 Nondiscriminatory evaluation
3 Individualized education program (IEP)
4 Least restrictive environment
5 Due process
6 Parental participation -
PL 99-457: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
In 1990, the EHA was reauthorized and renamed to IDEA. It expanded funding to support state and program planning for kids with disabilities from as early on as possible, including from birth. Researchers realized that intervention was most effective when started as early as possible. -
IDEA 2004
This act expanded IDEA to include 3 more things:
1 Special education specialists have to be certified to teach special education and be competent in the academic area they're teaching as well.
2 IEP standards were improved such as including short-term objectives and specifying accommodations for the child.
3 Transition plans should be included in an IEP, and be started at the age of 16. They should look at their education, community involvement, future employment, and an adult living situation.
