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Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA)
In previous years, children with disabilities were either sent away to receive a poor, low quality education or just didn't receive a free, quality education at all. This act was a huge step in the history of education because it required a free, appropriate, public education to all children with disabilities. The act provided a list of SPECIFIC expectations for improvement in order to provide students with disabilities and their families protection. -
EHA Amendments
Years after the Education for All Handicapped Children Act was created, amendments were created to further develop the act. EHA broadened and created Early Intervention Programs to infants and toddlers with disabilities. -
Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
IDEA is the authorized version of EHA. Person-First Language was brought to light and the name was changed. Along with the name change, IDEA not only reaffirmed the requirement of providing a free, public, appropriate education for children with disabilities, it also focused on inclusion in community schools. IDEA implemented federally funded support and research for transition services throughout secondary education and adulthood. -
IDEA Amendments
Years after IDEA was reaffirmed and renamed, more amendments were created in order to develop the act. This new amendment broadened the term "access" referring to what kinds of equal education children with disabilities were to be given. The amendment now requires both physical and curriculum access (getting students to a GOOD school and providing them a GOOD education). This led to higher expectations and greater outcomes. -
More IDEA Amendments
In order to ensure that schools and educators were delivering students with disabilities a free, good, and public education, another amendment was passed. This amendment increased accountability for educating students with disabilities by ensuring Special Education professionals were highly qualified. This amendment also expanded accountability by requiring schools to use a set of criteria to set research-based interventions for students with disabilities.
