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Rehabilitation Act of 1973
"This law is a civil rights law, and its purpose is to prevent discrimination against individuals with disabilities in programs receiving federal financial assistance.The law extends its educational regulations to include postsecondary environments, such as colleges and universities. It is used to protect the educational rights of persons with chronic health conditions in the public education setting." Overton 2016 pg. 43 -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act PL 94-142
"This was the first special education law directed at students with physical and mental disabilities. The law stated that public schools must provide children with special needs with the same opportunities for education as other children. It also required any public school that received federal funds to provide one free meal a day for these children." http://www.masters-in-special-education.com/lists/5-important-special-education-laws/ -
Americans with Disabilities Act
"Gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age and religion. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications." https://www.ssdmo.org/step1/laws.html -
No Child Left Behind
"School districts and individual schools must show that students are making “adequate yearly progress” (AYP) toward that goal. It also requires that all children be taught by “highly qualified teachers,” that communication improves with parents, and that schools are made safer. NCLB sets high expectations for all students regardless of their race, ethnicity, family background or disability." https://www.ssdmo.org/step1/laws.html -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act
"IDEA increased accountability for achievement by students with disabilities, reduced the amount of paperwork that educators and other professionals needed to complete, provided additional avenues to resolve disagreements between schools and parents, increased early intervention activities, improved teacher quality, and mandated efforts by state education agencies to decrease disproportionality of ethnic and culture representations in special education." Overton 2016, pg.29
