Historic Look at IDEA Evolving Issues and Practices

Sad U.S. History Many people (children) with disabilities were abandoned, killed, ‘warehoused’ in deplorable, inhumane institutions. Education was not a consideration

Initial Programs The American Asylum for the Education and Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb (1817) Maryland Institution for the Instruction of the Blind (1853) (became the Maryland School for the Blind in 1868) Also started the Maryland School for the Colored Blind and Deaf in 1872

Music in Special Ed. Literature shows that: –Music was used to teach students with disabilities –Singing was used to improve speech, breathing, and articulation skills –Music was used in diagnosing hearing problems before the development of audiology equipment –Music was used with deaf and hard of hearing students

Early-Mid 1900s Early 1900s- Public Education for all typical children By 1950s, as attitudes began to change, parents began organizing efforts to obtain funding for special schools for their children with special needs. 1960s brought more enlightened thinking regarding ALL people with needs, such as poverty, mental illness, racial inequalities, etc. NO LEGAL STANDING

Important Legislation affecting education for children with special needs

Brown vs. Board of Ed. (1954) School desegregation case Integrating ed. settings Separate is not equal Beginning of the end for ALL exclusionary practices in schools

EHA : Ed. of the Handicapped Act 1970 Expanded federal grant programs Funded pilot studies for Special Ed. Funds for development of University programs for special ed. Teacher training

PARC Penn. Assoc of Retarded Citizens vs. Commonwealth 1971 Established right for a FAPE (Free, Appropriate Public Education) for students with mental retardation Schools could not exclude students with MR Due Process must be followed Educate in less restrictive settings when possible

Mills vs. Bd. Of Ed expanded on PARC Guaranteed Due Process include procedures relating to labeling, placement, and exclusionary stages of decision making Schools had to fund Spec. Ed., even when funds were low Protection for more than just MR

Sec 504 of Rehabilitation Act 1973 Federal anti-discrimination law (civil rights) No org. that receives federal funds can discriminate based on disability condition Protects for alternate DX, such as medical illness, ADHD, behavior d/o, substance abuse Did not guarantee equal participation (extra-curric), but equal opportunity.

PL Education for All Handicapped Children Act 1975 Complete access to FAPE in the LRE (Least Restrictive Environment) Later became IDEA: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (1990) [PL ] Revised and reauthorized in 1997, then became the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act 2004

IDEA: 6 Principles 1.Zero Reject(ion): FAPE for ALL!!! 2.Nondiscriminatory evaluation for eligibility & need for services 3.LRE (Least Restrictive Environment) 4.IEP (Individualized Education Plan): services must be individualized 5.Parents’ right to full involvement in decisions, including the education plan 6.Due Process guarantee

Some Key IDEA Amendments Pre-school children (3-5) Early Intervention (under 3) Handicap replaced by Disability; Person 1 st language Autism & TBI included Assistive Technology

Current IDEA issues Higher expectations for students Increase access to regular ed. Use of research-based teaching interventions mandated Strengthen parent role Redefine Spec. Ed. as a service for eligible students, rather than a destination for their ed. Support professional development for all school personnel

ADA : Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 Most sweeping antidiscrimination disability legislation to date Extends civil rights and nondiscrimination protection to most public and private programs, services, and agencies.

NCLB: No Child Left Behind Act 2001 PL Increased accountability carrot or whip? --More choices for parents & students --Greater $$ flexibility for states, school districts, and schools --Stronger emphasis on reading