Historical Events that Shaped Rights for Students with Disabilities

By msyed2
  • Brown Vs. Board of Education

    This historical court case was a powerful challenge to the segregated school system that did not recognize black students to be equal to white students. This court case made its way to the Supreme Court where the Supreme Court ruled, " African-American children had the right to equal educational opportunities and that segregated schools “have no place in the field of public education.” This was a stride for educational equality.
  • ESEA is Created

    The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) was created by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The goal of this Act was to provide federal funding and equal access to education for disadvantaged students who struggled with poverty.
  • Congress Amends ESEA

    Congress amended the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to create a
    grant program to help states initiate, expand and improve on the education of handicapped children.
  • Public Law 94-142 is Created

    President Gerald Ford created Public Law 94-142, which was named the All Handicapped Children Act. This would later develop into what we know today as IDEA. Public Law 94-142 was created to provide equal access to education for children with disabilities, in addition to providing them with one meal per day.
  • Public Law 99-457 is Created

    Public Law 99-457 was added to Public Law 94-142 as an amendment under the All Handicapped Children Act. This law mandated for states to provide resources and services to children with disabilities starting from birth.
  • Creation of Handicapped Children’s Protection Act

    In 1986, Reagan signed the Handicapped Children’s Protection Act. This law would allow Parents to have involvement and rights over their child’s IEP.
  • IDEA is Created

    The Education for all Handicapped Children’s Act changes to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This change came with emphasis on educational equality, states were also given the right to expand developmental delay up to age nine.
  • Malcom in the Middle Airs on Television

    This television show is one that I watched growing up. Stevie was a student with disabilities and was the best friend of Malcom, the lead star of the show. There was a lot of perspective on students with disabilities shown on this tv series.
  • No Child Left Behind Act is Signed into Play

    The purpose of No Child Left Behind is to give all children a fair, equal and significant opportunity to education with provisional and noticeable growth.
  • A Special Needs Student is a Student with me in my Classroom

    In middle school, I had my first and only experience of having a student with special needs in a classroom setting with me. Many students and I were confused and scared of him at the time. He was alienated.
  • Period: to

    I Work as a Preschool Teacher and Work With a Special Needs Child

    I had an incredible and beautiful experience that brought me close to the special needs community. My favorite student was one who had special needs and changed my perspective on children with disabilities completely.
  • Employment at Maxim Healthcare

    I began working as an HAB Tech working to provide support for people with disabilities. I got hands on experience working directly with two patients on my own.
  • New Patient at Maxim

    At my job, I was transferred from working with a high school student to working with a 25 year old woman. Both patients had special needs but both required different things. I learned a lot from these two patients.