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Early efforts to education students with disabilities
In the 1950s and 1960s, the Federal government, with the strong support and advocacy of family associations, such as The ARC, began to develop and validate practices for children with disabilities and their families. These practices, in turn, laid the foundation for implementing effective programs and services of early intervention and special education in states and localities across the country. -
Training of Professional Personnel Act of 1959
This law helped train leaders to educate children with mental retardation. -
Teachers of the Deaf Act of 1961
This law helped to train instructional personnel for children who were deaf or hard of hearing. -
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act
This law provided states with direct grant assistance to help educate children with disabilities. -
Handicapped Children’s Early Education Assistance Act of 1968
This law authorized support for exemplary early childhood programs. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act, 1975
This law signed by President Ford mandated that public schools provide services for all "handicapped" students. Schools were required to evaluate children and create an educational plan that paralleled the academic experience of their non-disabled peers. -
1986 Amendments (PL 99-457) to Education for the Handicapped Act
These amendments to EHA mandated that states provide programs and services from birth. -
IDEA Amendments of 1997
These amendments supported initiatives for transition services from high school to adult living. -
1990 Amendments to EHA
These amendments changed the name to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). -
1997 Amendments to IDEA
These amendments specified that transition planning should begin at age 14. It also mandates that schools report progress to parents of children with disabilities as frequently as they report to parents of non-disabled children. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004)
This law updated the previous IDEA that mandates equity, accountability and excellence in education for children with disabilities.
