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Lesson 1: Introduction to Inclusive Settings and Collaboration
Legal Proceedings and Legislation Timeline
One of the most influential laws in education was passed in 1975, Public Law 94-142. The impact of that law commonly referred to as the IDEA –Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is still as strong today as it was when it was first passed. IDEA has been amended many times further strengthening the protections afforded to students with disabilities. The law guaranteed that students with disabilities would receive a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment. Without this law, schools were not required to provide students with disabilities educational services. This often led to led to students with disabilities being placed in institutional settings and not public schools.
IDEA specifically identifies schools must provide appropriate educations services for students with autism, deafness and hearing impairments, visual impairments, intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, other health impairments, emotional and behavioral disorders, speech and/or language disorders, traumatic brain injury, specific learning disabilities. These categories have undergone slight revisions with each amendment of IDEA. In addition to these categories, IDEA also provides education protections to students who are culturally or linguistically diverse, students at risk for failure, and gifted and talented students.
Protections for individuals with disabilities did not stop with IDEA, but continued with other court federal laws such as Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The common theme across all of the court rulings and federal laws is the protections provided for individuals with disabilities in education as well as after education.
Read Chapter 1 up to the Models of Service Delivery section and review the interactive timeline on legal cases (adapted from the textbook) before you continue reading.