-
Brown vs. Board of Education
SEPARATE IS NOT EQUAL.
This is the basis for current legislation including least restrictive environment. Civil Rights aim to level the playing field for the oppressed, and children with excenptionalities can be included in this definition. Not everyone was immediately willing to interpret the definition to include people with disabilities, but this was the first step in the right direction. -
Department of Public Welfare v. Haas
The State of Illinois ruled that "feebleminded" or "mentally deficient" children are not entitled to free public education based on the reasoning that they would not be able to recieve and/or use that education effectively. Although this legislation did nothing to further the rights for children with exceptionalities, it is vital that we understand that not every piece of legislation following Brown vs Board was a victory for civil rights. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act Public (ESEA) Law 89-10
This Act provides additional support for those who need it. Probably the most important provision of this Act is free and reduced lunches provided to children from low-income families. This was a push to better not only eduation, but the future of American in general, in my opinion. -
Vocational Rehabilitation Act Public Law 93-112
This Act requires any local, state or private organization that uses federal money to provide equal access to people with disablities. It was monumental because in order for people with limited mobility to be able to access certain places, ramps and elevators had to be installed. In some situations, entire buildings had to be rebuilt from scratch. Employment discrimination was prohibited by this Act as well. -
Education of All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA) Public Law 94-142
This mandated that all children were entitled to a free, and most importantly, an appropriate education. Since this time, public education has been working towards new definitions of appropriate education. One of the biggest steps achieved by this legislation is that the school must provide additional support for students who need it. Also, least restrictive environment was defined, which is a term vital to our current practices for special education. -
Education of the Handicapped Act Amendment Public Law 99-457
The biggest factor in this legislation is providing FREE appropriate education to children with handicaps, ages 3-5 years old. Another monumental contribution provided by this legislation is early intervention to children fomr birth to 2 years of age. To my knowledge, this is the first piece of legislation providing for intervention services. -
Americans with Disablities Act (ADA) Public Law 101-336
Up until this point, gains had been made mostly in the public sector. ADA prohibits discrimination against students with disabilities in the private sector as well. Students with AIDS were now protected under the term disabilities. The most significiant part of this legislation is those with disabilities will have equal access to employment, transportation, and public services. Before ADA, disabilities were not legally covered under affirmative action. -
Individuals with Disablities Education Act (IDEA) Public Law 101-476
IDEA not only updates, but takes the place of, EAHCA. This Act helps define people-first language and calls for its usage. Students with disablities who require services in another language are obligated to have those services provided to them. Transition to employment services are individually designed for students by the age of 16. -
Individuals with Disablitites Education Inprovement Act (IDEIA) Publc Law 108-446
Response to Intervention is used to test student for learning disablities. Additional funds are provided to help with early intervention services, but policies are also enacted to make sure there are not disproportionate numbers of students in special education based on race or ethnicity. For students who are not requried to take standardized tests, no short-term objectives are necessary for IEPs.
