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The Brown v. Board of Education case was one of the first influential cases that aided in taking steps to help students who needed special education. This case ruled that schools could not separate students by race which also connects to segregating kids with disabilities. This case led to the creation of future laws that helped with the inclusion of students with exceptionalities.
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The Education of the Handicapped Act was originally a grant program in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). That grant incentivized states to create program for students with disabilities. As the years went on, that grant program was revised, which created the Education of the Handicapped Act. This act helped to support programs for people with disabilities in schools, however it did not include specific guidelines that needed to be met.
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The Mills v Board of Education case led to states being required to provide "adequate alternative education services." The courts required schools to describe all services needed which later was helpful in creating the P.L. 94-142.
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The Vocational Rehabilitation Act (VRA) was an act that helped other laws/acts be defined specifically. It made a clear definition for what a handicapped person was and what an appropriate education was. It also banned the discrimination of students with disabilities in federally funded programs.
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Another act that was significant was the 1974 Educational Amendments Act. This act granted federal funds to states for programming exceptional learners. IT also provides the first federal funding of state programs for students who are gifted and talented. Lastly, it granted students and families the right to due process in special education placement.
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Another important act was the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. This act required states to provide a free and appropriate public education for children with disabilities. It also required individualized education programs for those students.
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This case was a stepping stone because it made clear the definition of a "free and appropriate public education." The court ruled that schools were only to require sufficient support but not the best possible to those students.
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This case was significant because it included individuals with emotional or behavioral disorders. It ruled that students with these disorders that were having academic or social problems could not be expelled if the behaviors were related to their disability.
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The next is the Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments. This was enacted in order to require states to extend free and appropriate education to children with disabilities. This was for children ages 3 to 5 years. It also established early intervention programs for children ages birth to 2 years, with disabilities.
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The next is the Americans with Disabilities Act. This act prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities in a private sector. It also protected equal opportunity to employment and public services. This act also included people with AIDS as part of having a disability. (ADA YouTube Shorts)[https://www.youtube.com/shorts/oVOi-McrC2w]
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The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was a large stepping stone. It required schools to assume greater responsibility for ensuring that students with disabilities have access to the general education curriculum. Another part of this act was that it required a general education teacher to be a member of the IEP team as well as allowed special education staff to assist general education students when needed. It also required students with disabilities to take part in state assessments.
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This case was about a young boy named Garret who was left paralyzed. Although he was paralyzed by an accident, his mental capacity remained unaffected. He required the help of a nurse to attend his classes and the court ruled that under the IDEA students must be provided with sufficient services with no extra cost.
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The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act declared that there be an increase in federal funds in order to provide intervention services to students who do not need special education. Additionally, it raised the standards for special education licensure and eliminated the use of short-term objectives in an individualized education plan.