The History of the IDEA
Your education matters.
Learn about the history of the IDEA and how it paved the way for educational rights.
Course Description
This course explains the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and how it developed into the federal special education law we know today.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that makes a free appropriate public education available to eligible children with disabilities and provides special education and related services to meet their individual needs.
- You will learn what education was like for many children with disabilities before federal protections and how family advocacy, federal laws, and important court decisions helped lead to a national special education law.
- You will follow how IDEA developed after 1975, including changes involving early intervention, transition planning, educational placement, family participation, and the quality of education provided to students with disabilities.
This self-paced course provides a clear and accessible introduction to the history of IDEA and the major changes that shaped special education in the United States.
Enrollment
Ready to begin?
Click the button below to enroll and start learning.
Additional Resources
Use the resources below to learn more about the topics in this course.
These resources are optional, and reading them is not required to complete the course.
They are here for anyone who wants to keep learning and go a little deeper.
Virtual Sensory Space (VSS)
Feeling overwhelmed? Need a break between courses? Or just want a few moments of peace? Our virtual sensory space offers simple tools and experiences to help you feel grounded and supported.
Youth and Youth Adult Resource Library
Explore resources prepared by PEAK to serve you.
