Special education is alternative instruction, support, and services provided for students who have academic, behavioral, health, physical, or other unique needs beyond those met by traditional educational techniques.
What is special education and when did it begin? It all began after WWII and the Civil Rights movement, when parents began forming advocacy groups to help bring the educational needs of children with disabilities to the public eye. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy created the President’s Panel, which included federal aid to states. Then in 1964, Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. With its funding for primary education, this is seen by advocacy groups as expanding access to public education for children with disabilities.
By 1970, schools educated only one in five children with disabilities. But it all changed in 1975 when two federal laws were enacted. The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA) establishes the right for all children, regardless of disability, access to public education. The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), on the other hand, requires schools to provide individualized or special education for children with qualifying disabilities.
Don’t let a child’s disability prevent him or her from getting a great education. The purpose of special education is to enable students to grow to their fullest potential by providing a free appropriate public education designed to fit their unique needs!
NAPA Center is a global leader in pediatric therapy, specializing in 3-week intensive therapy programs and weekly pediatric therapy at our multiple clinic locations worldwide. If your child needs our services, we will work closely with you to select the best therapies, creating a customized program specific to your child’s needs and your family’s goals. Interested in bringing your child to NAPA? Book a free phone screening today to see how NAPA’s multidisciplinary team of physical, occupational, and speech therapists can help support your child.
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Lisa is a passionate pediatric occupational therapist at NAPA Center Denver and serves as NAPA’s Global Director of Rehabilitation. Outside of NAPA, you’ll find her embracing the outdoors, hiking scenic trails with her family, and discovering all the beauty Colorado has to offer.
