Today is Special
Education Day. This day, in 1975, marks when United States President Gerald Ford signed
the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, known today as the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) into law.
Special Education
Day, first celebrated in 2005, marks the anniversary of that very first special
education law. The landmark law guarantees, “A free and appropriate public
education to children with disabilities.” The law provides equal opportunities and
access for more than 6 million students with disabilities and special needs.
Since the law’s enactment, several programs have been implemented to help
students with disabilities due to Special Education Day.
The Maryland State
Department of Education’s Division of Special Education/Early Intervention
Services has programs and services related to infants and youth with
disabilities and their families. These programs range from early intervention,
preschool special education, access to nonpublic schools, Medical Assistance
for school-health related services, autism programs and other mental health
initiatives.
Find out more
about programs and support available for children with disabilities in Prince
George’s County, Maryland at http://www1.pgcps.org/specialeducation/ and nationally, https://ccrs.osepideasthatwork.org/,
and http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/index.html.
