What is National Special Education Day?
National Special Education Day, December 2nd, honors changes in federal law that resulted in the country's first federal special education law.
Mills vs. Board of Education, a U.S. District Court lawsuit in the District of Columbia, began in 1971, ruled it was unlawful to deny exceptional children, including those with mental and learning disabilities, publicly funded educational programs. This led to the 1975 Education for All Handicapped Children Act. President Gerald Ford signed the legislation into law on November 29th, 1975. The federal law required states that accept federal funds to ensure equal access to children with disabilities. In 1986, legislators gave parents and educators the opportunity to assist parents and educators in establishing an education plan for children with disabilities. The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (IDEA), which was renamed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1990, was renamed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and expanded coverage for all children with developmental delay. The act has been updated over the years to raise services and expectations throughout the educational system.
Idea impact
This day honors the strides that have been made in special education, with education open to all American children. Many people with disabilities had no to no education before IDEA, and those with disabilities had little to no education before IDE A. Schools were not expected to make accommodations for children with disabilities. Although some states had special schools, the education and facilities were not always equal. In addition, many parents were unable to afford to send their children away from a special school to a special school.
