Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA) (1975) - Margaret S. + Charlotte T. by Margaret Smith

What is included under this act?

mmsmith10 — 2024-12-04 19:23:06 UTC

The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (1975) was inacted in order to help improve the educational services in public schools in order to better accomidate students with mental, emotional, physical, and leanring disabilites. It was also required that students are guaranteed a free and appropraite education that is able to cater to their specific needs. The rights of their parents and the student themselves in making descisions about IEP's and other such accomidations are further protected. Additionally, schools are required to continually asses the nature of a students disability and accomidations in order to better help them.

The creation of the Act.

mmsmith10 — 2024-12-04 19:23:28 UTC

President Gerald Ford signed the act into law in 1975 and created it with the intention of providing all students with access to a free, appropriate public education, something that ended up being a key part of IDEA. Before this, students with disabilities were not treated fairly whatsoever in society. The 1954 'Brown v. Board of Education' court case made a prescedent for the idea of being "seperate but equal". Though, this was not the case socially, as students and adults with disabilities were oftentimes treated as sub-human. Oftentimes being put into seperate schools, neglected by the education system, abused by their peers and supervisors, and sent to asylums.

It wasn't until the 1971 court case Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children (PARC) v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that the government recognized students with disabilites needing education and with that, the creation of IEPs.

Outcomes of the Act.

mmsmith10 — 2024-12-04 19:24:43 UTC

The EHC act was directly involved with the creation of many other acts and cases that came after that sought to help students with disabilities become the best that they can be in classrooms. Before the act was made, millions of children were unable to get an education due to their disability. Now, over 8 million students recive special education services in their classrooms. 66% of students with disabilites are able to spend over 80% of their schoolday in general education classrooms. More infants than ever are provided early intervention planning.

Related directly to the outcome of Smith v Robinson where the plaintiff claimed their rights under EHA were violated. The Supreme Court would decide that this was the exclusive remedy for disabled students seeking their right to equal education

Where we are now

mmsmith10 — 2024-12-04 19:24:51 UTC

EHA was revised and renamed to be IDEA in 1990. The IDEA, otherwise known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, encompasses everything under EHA but with a focus more on the individual student rather their disability.

The main purpose and idea of IDEA was to ensure that students with disabilities were given the same opportunities in education and the field beyond as students who did not have disabilities.

Reflection and Analysis

mmsmith10 — 2024-12-04 19:31:30 UTC

Explain the historical context of your chosen court case. Describe the historical significance of the case to the rights of students with disabilities. Why is this case important for educators to know about? Analyze the social implications of the case, including its impact on students, families, and society. Discuss the legal precedent set by the case and its implications for special education law.

This law provided legal protections for students with disabilities to have access to education that meets and supports their needs. EHA is important for educators to know about because it was the initial framework for IDEA, something that is incredibly important for educators to know about and be able to accurately and completely understand to ensure they are meeting their legal responsibilities. EHA provided a legal support system to ensure all students were receiving an education that accurately met their needs and was a free public education, something that was not previously guaranteed.