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The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act provided state federal money to states to better opportunities for students who live with disabilities, immobility's, learning difficulties, poverty, transience, or who need to learn English. -
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Section 504 is a civil rights law was the first directed at protecting children and adults against discrimination due to a disability throughout their lifespan. Making sure that no persons can be excluded solely because of their disability in areas of federal financial assistance. Reasonable accommodations are to be made to those with a physical or mental impairment that limits a major life activity, who has a record of said impairment, or who is regarded as having such impairment by others. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act (Public Law 94-142)
In 1975, congress passed this law stating that public schools across the U.S. must provide children with special needs with the same opportunities for education as children without disabilities. Also requiring that any public school that receives federal funds, is to provide one free meal per day for these students. This act was set to meet the needs of and protect the rights of children with disabilities and their families to make special education services available to students who need them. -
The Handicapped Children's Protection Act of 1986
The Handicapped Children's Protection Act of 1986 allows for due process and that parents of students with disabilities to recover attorney fees if they won a court case. -
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
What used to be the EHA, became The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1990. Stating that students with disabilities must have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) created, are given the opportunity to learn in an inclusive classroom (LRE), have claim on a free public education (FAPE), have safeguards designed to protect the rights of disabled children and their families, ensures appropriate evaluation processes, and allows for cross collaboration when developing IEP's. -
Americans with Disabilities Act (PL 101–336)
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 commits to ending discrimination against people with disabilities across all aspects of life. By further promising to keep freedom, equality, and opportunity in the workplace, state and local government services, public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications. -
The Assistive Technology Act (ATAP)
Each State receives a grant to fund the ATAP, providing assistive technology to those with disabilities for their entire lives so they can have the same opportunities in both an academic and career setting. In 2004 the act was reauthorized, setting 60% of the federal funds aside to support state financing activities, device reutilization programs, device loan programs, and device demonstration programs. -
No Child Left Behind Act (PL 107-110)
The No Child Left behind Act set out for schools to be accountable for academic performance of all students, disabled or not. Meaning that school would then have to implement regular assessments of academic skills. Incentives are then given to schools that show progress in students with special needs. Additionally, if schools are not meeting the students academic, social, or emotional needs, they can seek other options available to them to maximize resources. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004
This improvement act of IDEA allows for 15% of special education funds to go towards general education, to further assist special needs students who have yet to be identified. Also, new methods were set to classify students with disabilities and IEP's require long-term goals rather than short-term. Further, transition plans should have an end goal and schools are required to identify a replacement parent for homeless students (or that the court of law are responsible for) with disabilities. -
History of Disability Rights Enters Curricula of 2006
In 2006, a bill was passed that requires public school systems to teach all students, in grades ranging from K-12, the history of disability right movement. -
Rosa's Law (PL 111-256)
A U.S. law replacing the terms "mental retardation" or "mentally retarded" from federal statues and instead using the term off intellectual disability.