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History of Special Education Law

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History of Special Education Law
Grand Canyon University
Special Education Litigation and Law
SPE-350
Virginia Murray
August 11, 2013

History of Special Education Law
Throughout the ages, people with disabilities have been hidden away at homes or institutions and were often not educated. This was common practice and as such, when the education system was designed, children with disabilities were not even considered. Then, starting soon after the civil rights movement in the 50’s, a series of lawsuits was brought against school boards and the federal government took notice. Then the Education for all Handicapped Children Act of 1975 was passed and these children were finally allowed the education they deserved. As time went on, the Education for all Handicapped Children Act of 1975 became outdated and so it was revised and renamed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1990. IDEA completely changed the face of special education by adding and refining many stipulations. Both the Education for all Handicapped Children Act of 1975 and IDEA had specific, legal ramifications on the classroom.
Each act, the Education for all Handicapped Children Act of 1975 and IDEA has similarities and differences from each other and there is a Venn diagram included in the assignment to illustrate it. As the first incarnation of federal education law, the Education for all Handicapped Children Act of 1975 was relatively basic. In the article Disabilities: An Overview, this act was summarized. It basically listed many disabilities and the fact that children must meet two criteria, at least one of the listed disabilities and require special education (ERIC, 1987). This article then described all the disabilities and their description. As far as the article explained it, this act left a lot to be desired. However, as it granted the right for

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