History of Special Education Laws

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History of Special Education Laws

Sherry Pate

Grand Canyon University: SPE 350

September 30, 2012

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• IEP (Individual Education

Program)

• LRE (Least Restricted

Environment)

• FAPE (Free Appropriate

Public Education)

• Assessment and identification

services put in place

• Prohibit discrimination of

disabled students

History of Special Education Laws

In the years prior to the 1970s students with disabilities were offered very little educational opportunities in the public school systems. Many children with disabilities were taught at home, did not receive any education at all, or institutionalized. The Civil Rights Movement led to establishment of organizations, which recognized the need for legislation for the educational rights of children with disabilities. The work of these organizations led to the passage of the “Education for All Handicapped Children Act” in 1975. This Act was also known as Public Law 94-142 and was the cornerstone for free public education for students with disabilities. In many ways the Education for all Handicapped Children Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act are similar but the focus in both acts is to provide students with disabilities a free and appropriate public education.

The Venn Diagram above shows how the Education for All Handicapped Children Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is similar and different. The focus of the Education for all Handicapped Children Act was to provide reasonable adaptations for...