The Context and History of Special Education

Deconstructing Disabilities

• Definitions differ due to culture, attitudes, beliefs, orientation, and discipline

• Explanations of the concept vary on whether disability means impairment of a person’s ability to participate in mainstream society

• Difference b/w disability and a handicap– Handicap=discrimination and pity

History of Disabilities• Romans- put to death• Middle Ages and Renaissance- court jesters and kept for

amusement• World War II- millions of disabled people killed and marked start of

Nazi death camps• Educational and Social neglect- 19th century legacy• Institutionalization- 20th Century- purpose to take those who were

different out of the society• 1954- Brown vs. Board of Ed- excluded those w/ disabilities• 1960’s- start of Civil rights movement• 1970’s- impact of legislation

– 1972- PARC vs. Commonwealth of PA- guaranteed ed. for MR– 1972- Mills vs. District of Columbia- reinforced right for education

Reasons Why Congress Passed National Special Ed. Laws

• Moral/Ethical- years of exclusion, segregation and ed. Opportunities-

• In 1948 only 12% of disabled received education and 1962 only 16 states had mandatory rules for mild disabilities

• Parents had no options

• Influence of litigation

• By 1970- 8 million kids were un-served

Landmark Special Education Laws

Date # Name Provisions1973 Section 504

PL 93-112

Section 504 of Vocational Rehabilitation Act

Set stage for IDEA and ADA

Guarantees civil rights for disabled

Require accommodations for school and society

1975 PL 94-142 The Education of All Handicapped Children’s Education Act (EHA)

Guarantees free and appropriate public education (FAPE) with the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)

IEP (Individualized Education Plan)

Gave parents Due Process

Landmark Special Education Laws

Date # Name Provisions1986 PL 99-457 Pre-School of Toddler

ActEarly Intervention Services (EI) for infants and toddlers

Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSP)

1990 PL 101-476 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

Re-authorized PL 94-112

Added Transition Plans (ITP)

Added autism and traumatic brain injuries

Landmark Special Education Laws

Date # Name Provisions1990 PL 101-336 Americans with

Disabilities Act (ADA)

Barred discrimination from employment, transportation, public buildings and telecommunications

Implements concept of normalization

1997 PL 105-17 IDEA (reauthorized) Added ADHD to “other health impairments”

Added functional and behavioral Assessments and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP)

Landmark Special Education Laws

Date # Name Provisions2001 PL 107-110 Elementary and

Secondary Education Act or No Child Left Behind (ESEA)

Requires all kids take part in state and district testing

Call for 100% proficiency for all in reading and math by 2012

Parental choice and right

?? Politics and Advocacy Play a role in the future of Special Education

SPECIAL ED TODAY

• Special Ed. is a set of services not a place• Influence of Medical care and technology• Dilemmas

– Balance b/w FAPE and LRE– Litigation– Cost of Special Ed- related services and costs and federal

assistance– Inclusion– Due Process– Segregation?/Discriminatory– Includes too many students– Administrative burden– Outcomes- employment, residential, societies attitudes

Classification

• Autism• Deaf-Blindness• Deafness• Emotional Disturbances• Hearing Impairments• Mental Retardation• Multiple Disabilities• Orthopedic impairments• Other health Impaired• Specified Learning Disabilities• Traumatic Brain Injuries• Visual Impairment