Special education Research Paper

With over seven million Americans aged 6-21 battling a certain kind of disability, the local, state and federal governments have partnered to educate them (Brunsting, Sreckovic & Lane, 2014; (Wei et al. In most states, the local and state governments fund circa 91% of the child’s expenses and the federal government funds the rest (Brunsting, Sreckovic & Lane, 2014). However, this has not always been the norm. Funding for special education has taken a long time and lobbying to be enacted. The United States government has also gradually tested the concept of funding special education over time and eventually settled on full government funding. Family associations throughout the United States also staged marches and offered educational products to Americans to make them aware of the predicaments that fellow Americans face.

Riding on the wave of uncertainty, more people joined the marches in the 1960s that the government listened to their pleas. The lobbyists in the 1960s had a full picture of special education (Brunsting, Sreckovic & Lane, 2014). They demanded dedicated special education, learning equipment, and fully trained teachers. The first enactments to provide government funding for special education were passed in the 1960s paving way for the future of special education. It is often stated that the 1970s marked the biggest leap in special education as it was the decade that granted civil rights to disabled persons. In 1973, the Rehabilitation Act granted civil rights to all disabled persons and accommodation to all disabled students in schools (Heward and Wood, 2009). The Education for all Handicapped Children Act (EHA) of 1975 is also seen as an incredible legislation as it guaranteed a free and appropriate education to all disabled children.

This legislation enabled underprivileged disabled children to pursue education. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 barred discriminatory employment. With the enactment of the IDEA, students were not just guaranteed of a quality education but also transition to adult life. Education for disabled people was still new compared to mainstream education hence there needed to be a guide on transitionary elements of this education system. It also guaranteed individualized attention to students since most disabilities occurred in different ways and magnitudes hence individualized attention helped the students become the best they could be (Talbot, Mayrowetz, Maggin & Tozer, 2016). It also increased schooling options for disabled students with the zero reject policy. Fundamentally, this legislation is considered a landmark in special education. Indeed, no child shall be left behind in education.

Inclusivity in education There is a widening disparity in the economic standards of the world. The gap between the rich and the poor has been rising for decades and one of the tools to curb this is offering proper education to all Americans irrespective of whether they are disabled or not. Inclusivity in education is a trending issue across the globe as people understand the role of education in development. Inclusivity in education is also a wide issue which can be accessed from different viewpoints among them is the disparity in the quality of education received by the disabled children and other children (Wei et al. Disabled children were hitherto neglected in schools, but through this policy, there is more incentive to better their educational experience and not just letting them attend school because they are obligated to (Wei et al.

Conclusion Special education has tremendously evolved from the days when disabled persons had no civil rights to this epoch where there is competitive and inclusive education. Through legislations, the government has made it easier for children with disabilities to pursue education and transition into work life. This process has taken over half a century of lobbying and challenging the government to consider inclusive education. Other measures that have aided this include court rulings and public debates. What are the challenges in being a special education professional? Understanding different disabilities is the greatest challenge in education. What interests you the most about special education? The ability to impact the society positively is a phenomenal ability that should be appreciated. What is the greatest impact of special education on people with disability and their families? Special education gives hope to families and a sense of belonging to the disabled people.