Special Education in the United States

  • Brown V. Board of Education

    Brown V. Board of Education

    This is one of the landmark civil rights cases in the United States. The Supreme Court held that the "separate but equal" education was not just and most definitely not equal. Although this case pertained to African American students; it gave the foundation for the parents of children with disabilities to fight for their equal rights later on. https://www.acslaw.org/?post_type=acsblog&p=10186#:~:text=The%201954%20Brown%20v.,for%20all%20children%20with%20disabilities.
  • PARC V. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    PARC V. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    This was the first court case where the court ruled that the state could not deny someones right to education based on a disability. The court said that schools have to provide the services appropriate for these individuals and they cannot be excluded.
  • Mills V. Board of Education of the District of Columbia

    Mills V. Board of Education of the District of Columbia

    This court case similar to the last one, held that no individual can be denied education because of "mental, behavioral, physical, or emotional handicaps or deficiencies." These court cases were the precedent for special education teaching in the United States. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLf8sUp1Jk8&t=13s
  • EHA

    EHA

    Passage of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act or the Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was signed into law by President Gerald Ford. This act made sure every child with a disability had appropriate public education. It now mandated that every school is required to tend to a childs special needs.
  • Board of Education of the Hendrick Hudson Central School District v. Rowley

    Board of Education of the Hendrick Hudson Central School District v. Rowley

    This is the first take on the EHA by the Supreme Court and this ruling was that public schools do not have to provide interpreters to deaf students. The court ruled that the schools should provide basic services but not for the child to reach their full potential.
  • National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD)

    Foundation for Children with Learning Disabilites changed its name to the National Center for Learning Disabilities. They now promote research and programs to encourage appropriate and the best learning for children with disabilities. They also advocate for policies to come into place when needed.
  • IDEA

    IDEA

    This replaced the Education of the Handicapped Act. IDEA was passed to ensure that all children no matter how severe their disability is have appropriate education. The act also was designed to provide additional services and resources for students with disabilities.
  • Changes To IDEA

    President Clinton signed a bill that added some amendments to the IDEA act. Essentially making it mandatory for children with disabilities to get evaluated before they enter school to have the best plan of education for them (IEPs).
  • Assistive Technology Act

    Assistive Technology Act

    This act provides funding from the government to each state to support any assistive technologies for those who have disabilities. Emphasized the inclusion of students with disabilities and access to these technologies a legal requirement.
  • Every Student Succeeds Act

    Every Student Succeeds Act

    ESSA although not pertaining to entirely to special education, reduced unnecessary standardized testing and promoting more transparency with parents in education. Also, the inclusion of all students was emphasized.