jan 31, 1990 - The Education for All Handicapped Children Act was reformulated as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
Description:
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) focused on the inclusion of children with disabilities into the general education classroom. It also addressed the right of parents to be involved in the education decisions of their children. IDEA required that an Individualized Education Program be designed for every child with a disability and be approved by the child’s parents (Yell et al., 2004). In the act, the word “handicap” was replaced with “disability.” Additionally, dated aspects of the legislation were altered to use people-first language. Both of these adjustments are reflective of the positive changes in public sentiment regarding people with disabilities at the time. Additionally, the Act provided transitory resources for individuals over the age of 16 (Yell et al., 2004). One resource is an individualized plan to ensure a successful transition into adulthood for students leaving high school. Additional resources include financial and counseling assistance regarding college readiness, job skill trainings, and access to housing options within the community (Yell et al., 2004). The passage of IDEA marked the end of an era of mere access to education for children with disabilities and the introduction of an era of empowerment for those children.
Added to timeline:
EDUC 1220
Date:
