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The Council for Exceptional Children is the largest international organization that aims to promote and improve the education of individuals with disabilities, through supporting both educators and students. This support is provided through policies, legislation, research, awareness, and educational professional practices. Founded by Elizabeth E. Farrell, the CEC continues to be known as the source of information for special educators, through their advocacy and resources. -
A landmark Supreme Court case that ruled segregation in schools by race was unconstitutional. This ruling laid the legal framework for future legislation that protected students with disabilities, such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1975. This was an important decision in American history that would leave in impact on advances in protecting students with disabilities and providing them with a fair education. ACS -
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act was passed by President Lyndon B. Johnson to provide federal aid to public schools. This act initiated the role of the federal government in public education as it provided low-income students with equal opportunities, such as providing free and reduced lunch. The ESEA set the foundation for federal aid to be used towards public school programs for students with disabilities. -
A parent founded organization that advocated for children with disabilities and their rights. Parents would plan and find services for their children when the only thing being offered at the time was institutionalization. Today, The Arc is the largest national community with programs and information for people with intellectual developmental disabilities (IDD). Arc -
A lawsuit filed in 1971 by the Pennsylvania Association of Retarded Children challenged the legality of excluding children with mental disabilities from public education. PARC won the lawsuit, and the state was not allowed to deny children with mental disabilities access to public education. This was the first right to an education lawsuit, and it set the groundwork for the 1975 Handicapped Children Act. -
This case started with 7 families of students with disabilities who had been excluded from attending public school in D.C, as the schools stated they did not have the resources or accommodation. The court ruled that schools had to administer their resources with disabled students in mind, not disregarding them. This also allowed handicap students to participate in the general classroom environment if they wanted to. -
Signed into law by President Nixon in 1973, this was the first major federal legislation that protected those with disabilities against discrimination. Individuals could not be discriminated against and denied employment, housing, and education. Section 504 prohibits programs recieving federal funding to discriminate towards those with disabilities. This was a landmark law that propelled the independence and inclusion of those with disabilities. -
Landmark federal law that required all public schools receiving federal funding to provide free and appropriate education for students with disabilities. The schools provided the proper planning and services for children at no cost to the parents. Prior to this law, public schools provided limited or no access to children with disabilities. EACHA -
The Americans with Disabilities Act signed into law by President H.W Bush is an extension of the Rehabilitation Act 1973 and prohibits individuals with disabilities to face discrimination from public services, employers, public accommodations, etc. In public education, schools were to provide the necessary accommodation for students and facilities had to be accessible according to the ADA’s standards. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act replaces and renames the Handicap Act. This act has set policies that include students in less restrictive learning environments by providing additional services and that students be educated with their peers. This Act required states to provide services such as bilingual education and individualized transition programs for students. Also, information and resources were available to parents such as social work. -
NCLB Act was a reauthorization of the ESEA act that implemented more federal control over public schools and required standardized testing and data collection of all students and groups. These procedures were set in place to hold schools accountable for their students and assessments. Standardized testing allowed schools to be ranked based on their scores and for parents to have the choice of sending their child to a better ranking school.