IDEA—45 Years Later

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Nov. 29, 2020, marks the 45th anniversary of President Gerald Ford signing the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (Public Law 94-142) into law. The 1990 amendment to Public Law 94-142 changed the law’s name to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Join the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) and the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) the week of Nov. 30, 2020, as the Department of Education celebrates 45 years of providing education, supports and services to infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities and their families through the IDEA. Additionally, follow OSERS on Twitter to celebrate 45 years of IDEA.

History

The IDEA has experienced numerous changes over the years in an effort to better support infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities. Find out more about the history of IDEA.

Celebrating the IDEA 45th Anniversary with Mark Schultz and Laurie VanderPloeg. IDEA 45 #IDEA45Years

Celebrating the IDEA 45th Anniversary with Mark Schultz and Laurie VanderPloeg

RSA Commissioner Mark Schultz, delegated the authority to perform the functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for OSERS, and OSEP Director Laurie VanderPloeg discuss the past, present and future of the IDEA.
OSEP Fast Facts: IDEA 45th Anniversary. IDEA 45. #IDEA45Years

OSEP Fast Facts: IDEA 45th Anniversary

The newest OSEP Fast Facts highlights key changes to the IDEA during the last 45 years as well as facts and figures related to infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and teachers and services providers.

Blogs

Image of Michael Norman

IDEA Deserves Our Continued Passion, Advocacy and Support

Michael Norman started an internship with the National Association of State Directors of Special Education in 1976, shortly after the Education for All Handicapped Children Act was signed into law. Learn how he has since spent his career as a special education advocate.
Headshot of Douglas Fuchs on left and head shot of Lynn Fuchs on right.

Forty-five Years of IDEA-Funded Research Supporting a “Free Appropriate Public Education”

Douglas Fuchs and Lynn Fuchs reflect on research facilitated by the IDEA legislation and successive reauthorizations.
Image of Kanika Littleton

A Milestone for Civil Rights: Celebrating 45 Years of IDEA

Kanika Littleton, Michigan Alliance for Families director and parent of a child with a disability, reflects on the role parents, families and advocates have played in calling for equity in education.
Image of Jane West

The Personnel Who Deliver the Promise of Idea Into the Lives of Children and Families

Jane West started her career as a special educator in 1973, a couple years before the enactment of the law now known as IDEA. She knew she found her calling when she saw low expectations set for her students.
Image of George Sugai

Happy Birthday, IDEA!

George Sugai, University of Connecticut’s Naeg School of Education professor emeritus, began his special education career in the fall of 1974. He shares his experiences of working in a classroom at the start of IDEA and how the IDEA helped focus and shape his career.

Video Stories

Idaho Celebrates 45 Years of IDEA. IDEA 45. #IDEA45Years

Idaho Celebrates 45 Years of the IDEA

Dr. Charlie Silvia and Jeff Brandt celebrate 45 years of the IDEA. Join them as they look at education for Idaho students with disabilities before IDEA and now with examples from two families.
Text: A Parent's Perspective: Dan Delany. IDEA 45 #IDEA45Years with play button over text

A Parent’s Perspective: Dan Delany

Dan Delany, a parent of a child with autism, shares his perspective of the IDEA and how he has learned to be a better advocate for his son using the protections afforded by the IDEA.
Text: A Student's Perspective: James. IDEA 45 #IDEA45Years with play button over text

A Student’s Perspective: James

James, a student with a disability, reflects on the education and supports he has received thanks to the IDEA.
IDEA 45th Anniversary Slide Show. IDEA 45. #IDEA45Years with play button over text

Celebrating 45 Years of IDEA: Slide Show

Educators and families reflect on the IDEA. This presentation features their testimonials as to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the IDEA. Audio described transcript
A Parent's Perspective: Kodey Toney. Play button over text

A Parent’s Perspective: Kodey Toney

Kodey Toney, the father of two boys including one who has autism, discusses what he believes are the two most important parts of the IDEA for his family: early intervention and least restrictive environment.
A Parent's Perspective: Mitzi Proffitt. Play button over text

A Parent’s Perspective: Mitzi Proffitt

Mitzi Proffitt and her son Joshua Williams share Joshua’s journey from kindergarten through college, which he graduated from in May 2020. It started with Mitzi advocating for her son and continues with Joshua learning to advocate for himself.
A Student's Perspective: Benji Garcia. IDEA 45. #IDEA45Years

A Student’s Perspective: Benji Garcia

Benji Garcia, an 18-year-old Texan, has received special education services since he was 3. Benji credits his teachers and aides for helping him improve his academic and social skills.
A Student's Perspective: Jessica Queener. IDEA 45. #IDEA45Years

A Student’s Perspective: Jessica Queener

Jessica Queener, an OSERS Rehabilitation Services Administration vocational rehabilitation specialist, was diagnosed with a severe to profound hearing loss at age 3. Jessica shares her experiences with the IDEA, FAPE and LRE.
A State Leader's Perspective: Sharon Loza. IDEA 45 #IDEA45

A Local/State Perspective: Sharon Loza

Sharon Loza, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services early intervention branch head, discusses the importance of IDEA and how it has led to an increase in early intervention services.
A State Leader's Perspective: Zelphine Smith-Dixon. IDEA 45. #IDEA45Years

A State Leader’s Perspective: Zelphine Smith-Dixon

Zelphine Smith-Dixon, Georgia Department of Education Division of Special Education Services and Support state director, shares why she believes the IDEA is so critical in contributing to the success of students with disabilities and their families.
A Student's Perspective: Gracie Flanagan. IDEA 45. #IDEA45Years

A Student’s Perspective: Gracie Flanagan

Gracie Flanagan, a high schooler, and her mom Kim talk about the importance of IDEA and how Gracie’s teachers and paraprofessionals play a key role in her education.

OSEP Fast Facts: IDEA 45th Anniversary

OSEP Fast Facts: IDEA 45th Anniversary. IDEA 45. #IDEA45Years The newest OSEP Fast Facts highlights key changes to the IDEA during the last 45 years as well as facts and figures related to infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and teachers and services providers.

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Videos

Play button over top of: Celebrating 45 Years of the IDEA. IDEA 45 #IDEA45Years

Celebrating 45 Years of IDEA: Anniversary Video

The newest OSEP Fast Facts highlights key changes to the IDEA during the last 45 years as well as facts and figures related to infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and teachers and services providers.

This video was first developed for the Celebration of the 35th Anniversary to document the history of IDEA. While the critical message the video conveys are still historically accurate, the data points have changed in the past 10 years. Below are the updated data points as of 2020:

Updated data points as of 2020

  • The number infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities from birth through age 21 served under the IDEA has increased from 3,694,000 in the 1976-77 school year to 7,539,553 in the 2018-19 school year.
  • In 2018-19, 95% of students with disabilities were educated in a school. More than 6 million students with disabilities received services in a general education classroom at least part of the day.
  • The number of infant and toddlers served under IDEA, Part C has increased from 154,065 in 1993-94 to 410,887 in 2018-19.
  • The percent of students with disabilities exiting school ages 14 through 21 who graduated with a regular diploma has increased from 52% in the 1994-95 school year to 72.7% in the 2017-18 school year.
  • The percent of students with disabilities exiting school ages 14 through 21 who dropped out has decreased from 34% in the 1994-95 school year to 16% in the 2017-18 school year.
IDEA Trivia

Throughout the IDEA 45th anniversary commemoration, OSERS and OSEP will post IDEA trivia questions to Twitter. Not on Twitter? You can follow along on this page. Click on the question to find the answer.

A1: An IFSP is a written plan for providing early intervention services to an infant or toddler with a disability and infant’s or toddler’s family. An IEP is developed for eligible children with disabilities aged 3 through 21 and includes special education and related services designed to meet the child’s unique needs and prepare the child for further education, employment and independent living.

A2: IDEA Part C. Infants and toddlers, birth through age 2, with disabilities and their families receive early intervention services under IDEA Part C. Learn more about IDEA statutes and regulations.

A3: Approximately 7.5 million. In the 2018-19 school year, 7,539,553 infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities from birth through age 21 were served under IDEA. Check out OSEP Fast Facts for more IDEA-related stats.

A4: President Gerald Ford signed the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, into law. Learn more about the history of the IDEA.

A5: 410,877 infants and toddlers were served under the IDEA in 2018. Only 154,065 infants and toddlers were served under Part C in 1993-94. Learn more “Fast Facts” about infants and toddlers with disabilities.

A6: The All Handicapped Children Act was reauthorized to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 1990. Learn more about the history of the IDEA.

A7: Mediation, state complaints and due process complaints. Learn more about IDEA’s dispute resolution procedures.

A8: IDEA Section 300.8 lists primary disability categories. The IDEA states, “Child with a disability means a child evaluated in accordance with §§300.304 through 300.311 as having an intellectual disability, a hearing impairment (including deafness), a speech or language impairment, a visual impairment (including blindness), a serious emotional disturbance (referred to in this part as ’emotional disturbance’), an orthopedic impairment, autism, traumatic brain injury, an other health impairment, a specific learning disability, deaf-blindness, or multiple disabilities, and who, by reason thereof, needs special education and related services.”

A9: The highest percentage of children with disabilities served under the IDEA are identified under the primary disability category of “Specific Learning Disability.”

A10: Part D of the IDEA funds discretionary grants, which are awarded by the department through a competitive process. Discretionary grants support state personnel development, technical assistance and dissemination, technology and parent training and information centers.

A11: As of Dec. 2, 2020, OSEP funds 94 PTIs and CPRCs in the U.S. and its territories. For more about these centers, visit the Center for Parent Information and Resources.

A12: 3.48% of the population of infants and toddlers ages birth through 2 years are served under IDEA, Part C. Check out OSEP Fast Facts for more information on infants and toddlers served under IDEA, Part C.

A13: 72.7% of students with disabilities, age 14-21, exiting school in the 2017-18 school year graduated with a regular high school diploma. In 1994-95, 52% graduated with a regular diploma. Check out more IDEA-related OSEP Fast Facts.

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Last modified on April 25, 2023