Special Education

The standard definition of special education is specially designed instruction, at no cost to the parent, designed to meet the unique needs of the individual with disabilities, whose educational needs cannot be met with modification of the general education program. The IDEA (formerly the EHA), was enacted in the early 1970s, following several successful civil rights cases, Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Citizens v. Commonwealth (1971) and Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia (1972), which provided the basic structure of special education law. Therefore, it is a guarantee not only to taxpayer parents that they will be entitled to the same benefits of their tax dollars as their parents-of-children-without disabilities peers, but children with disabilities will not be denied access to their own communities, meaningful education and training, and the simple dignity of being treated like a person with potential, opportunities, and a contribution to society