How IDEA changed Special Education

Before the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), it was known as Education for All Handicapped Children Act also known as Public Law 94 - 142, but even before that children with special needs were unable to go to school. In the 1970s schools were only allowed to teach one out of every five children with disabilities. Even then they did not educate the deaf, blind, emotionally disturbed or mentally retarded. Ever since IDEA came along though early intervention has been provided for more than 200,000 infants, toddlers and their families. There have also been 6.5 million children and youth that receive special education or related services in order to learn. Students with disabilities are also allowed to attend schools in their own neighborhoods and learn beside their peers. With this act it also states that goals are to be set that students are to achieve. Special education is no longer unimportant it is the center of the success of any school. Because of IDEA and the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001(NCLB) students with special needs have completed high school rather than dropping out by 17 percent between 1987 and 2003. During the same time, postsecondary education participation went up to 32 percent. Students with special needs were able to get jobs easier and employment and independence is part of the dream for children with disabilities. We are getting to that dream slowly, but with these laws we are closer then we ever have been.