Celebrating the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 50th Anniversary
Winter 2025
California Making Access Possible (MAP) to Inclusion and Belonging funded by the California Department of Social Services and operated by WestEd, is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This federal law was originally enacted as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (Public Law 94-142 (PDF)) in November 1975 to support states and localities in protecting the rights of, meeting the individual needs of, and improving the results for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and their families. This turning point legislation opened the doors of public schools to millions of children with disabilities, who had previously been excluded from the education system. It guarantees access to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) for every child with a disability.
This celebration coincides with my retirement from my job as Coordinator of the California MAP Project. It just so happens that my daughter who has a significant developmental disability was born in 1986, the same year that IDEA was extended to include services and supports for infants and toddlers with disabilities. My family has experienced the life changing benefits of IDEA from early intervention to preschool to elementary school, middle school and high school …. ending with a high school diploma. Her education, made possible by IDEA, gave her the tools that she needed to make her dream come true! She is currently working as an aid at a Montessori Preschool. She loves her job and the kids at the preschool love her!
It is my honor and privilege to share resources in this newsletter one last time. To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of IDEA the MAP Team has gathered resources to help families and early care and education providers gain a better understanding of IDEA: the history, the impact, the law, the disability rights movement, California’s resources and training opportunities that support inclusion and belonging and ways to celebrate all year long!
Wishing you continued success in facilitating inclusion!
Cindy Arstein-Kerslake
History and Significance of IDEA
Find out about the evolution of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act from the US Department of Education’s article and/or video. Then watch the interview with a representative from The Arc, an organization that represents families, to hear about the significance of IDEA for families and what could be done to improve it.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) – History & Evolution (Video)
The Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) has given millions of students across the United States access to an education that best serves their unique needs. As we celebrate 50 years of this life-changing law, learn how IDEA came to be, and how it continues to protect students to this day.
Fifty Years Later: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (VIDEO)
2025 marks 50 years since the passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Katy Neas, Chief Executive Officer of The Arc of the United States, sits down with host Tetiana Anderson to discuss the law’s ongoing impact, and current efforts to further expand its reach.
This short overview of the 50th Anniversary of the IDEA explains the significance of IDEA and what it means for families. It provides a realistic look at how IDEA is being implemented today and what improvements are needed for the future.
The Impact of IDEA
Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Fast Facts Early Childhood Educational Environments
One of the most significant achievements of IDEA is the increased inclusion of children with disabilities in general education classrooms. In 2023-24, more than 59% of children ages 3-5 (not in kindergarten) with disabilities were in general education classrooms 80% or more of their school day. In California, 34.14 % of children ages 3-5 were enrolled in a regular early childhood program.
For those of us who love numbers and enjoy visuals to describe them, this Office of Special Education Programs web page is worth exploring. It describes the educational environments, gender, race, ethnicity and disability types of children with disabilities served in the United States with colorful easy to read graphs and visuals. It compares the percentage of students with disabilities ages 3-5 by educational environment in program years 2012 and 2023.
What is IDEA?
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) ensures that children with disabilities receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) that includes services in the Least Restrictive Environments (LRE) with access to the general education curriculum with appropriate accommodations and modifications guided by the Individualized Education Program (IEP) to protect rights and provide a roadmap to meet individual needs. The following resources provide definitions of the highlighted words, explain the various Parts of the law and goes deeper into the various aspects of the law.
IDEA—the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
This website has links to summaries of IDEA, IDEA itself, Guidance on IDEA and Training materials on IDEA. The summaries of IDEA for families and professionals are very helpful:
Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) Resource Document (PDF)
This 2-page document provides a full definition of Free Appropriate Public Education and explains what FAPE requires schools to do and what it does not require schools to do. In addition, it compares the difference between what FAPE requires under IDEA and Section 504.
Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
Least restrictive environment, or LRE as it is more commonly called, is one of several vital components in the development of a child’s IEP and plays a critical role, influencing where a child spends his or her time at school, how services are provided, and the relationships the child develops within the school and community. Indeed, LRE is a foundational element in building an appropriate IEP that can improve outcomes for a child—in school and in life.
Learn the Law: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (PDF)
This 3-page description provides a summary of IDEA and key elements that explain the responsibilities of the school and the rights of children with disabilities to attend school with the supports that they need.
High Quality IEPs Videos
The High Quality IEPs Project (HQ IEPs) serves families and Local Education Agencies (LEAs) across California by providing training and resources to support meaningful engagement in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process. They offer a series of videos to help explain the key elements of the IEP.
The Disability Rights Movement That Helped Make IDEA Possible
A Brief But Spectacular take on the disability rights movement, Judy Heumann
Since childhood, Judy Heumann has faced ableism — institutionally, socially, and personally. New York’s public school system prevented her from enrolling, and she was often bullied or excluded by her own peers. After a lifetime of activism, she is finally seeing a shift in how people with disabilities are viewed and treated. She gives us her Brief but Spectacular take on the disability rights movement.
Chapter 1 | Change, Not Charity: The Americans with Disabilities Act (Video)
CHANGE, NOT CHARITY: THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT tells the emotional and dramatic story of the decades-long push for equality and accessibility that culminated in the 1990 passage of the ADA, one of the most consequential civil rights bills in the nation’s history.
Accessibility Laws: Section 504, IDEA, and ADA
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) work together to protect children and adults with disabilities from exclusion, discrimination, and unequal treatment in education, employment, and the community.
This tip sheet from the National Deaf Center summarizes Section 504, IDEA and ADA. It is downloadable and also available in Spanish.
Books That Tell the Story of How Children with Disabilities Gained the Right to Go to School
Fighting for YES!: The Story of Disability Rights Activist Judith Heumann
Fighting for Yes is a picture book biography celebrating the life and work of disability rights activist and icon Judith Heumann, highlighting one of her landmark achievements—leading the historic 504 Sit-in in 1977.
From a very young age, Judy Heumann heard the word “No.” When she wanted to attend public school, the principal said “No.” When she wanted her teaching license, the New York Board of Education said “No.” Judy and people with disabilities everywhere were tired of hearing “No.”
In the 1970s, an important disability rights law, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, was waiting to be signed. Judy and other disability rights activists fought for “YES!” They held a sit-in until Section 504 was signed into law. Section 504 laid the foundation for the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was established thanks in large part to the ongoing work of Judy and her community.
We Want to Go to School!: The Fight for Disability Rights
The true story of the people who helped make every public school a more inclusive place.
There was a time in the United States when millions of children with disabilities weren’t allowed to go to public school. But in 1971, seven kids and their families wanted to do something about it. They knew that every child had a right to an equal education, so they went to court to fight for that right. The case Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia led to laws ensuring children with disabilities would receive a free, appropriate public education. Told in the voice of Janine Leffler, one of the millions of kids who went to school because of these laws, this book shares the true story of this landmark case.
The Benefits of Inclusion: A Family Story of Inclusion
Inclusion in a neighborhood school provides the opportunity for all children with disabilities and their families to be valued members of their community. It gives children without disabilities and their families in the community the opportunity to gain experience with children with diverse abilities and appreciate the gifts that they offer. Being part of a school community breaks down barriers of isolation that come with attending a segregated school or classroom. With school as common ground the opportunities to interact with other families open the door to developing a network of supportive relationships.
Andrew Perry’s Circle of Friends
To help you get a better understanding of the fullness of life that comes when you are a member of a school community, please read the true story of the Perry family. It tells the story of how a child with multiple disabilities was able to attend his neighborhood school and the lifetime impact it had on his family and his Circle of Friends.
Pre-Kindergarten Options for ALL Children in California
Alameda County: Explore Pre-Kindergarten Options
Many parents of three and four-year-olds have questions about the best place for their child to receive care and become ready for Kindergarten. Learn more about kindergarten readiness here.
This website guides families in considering the needs of their family and exploring the various learning environments and which might be right for their child and family. Center-based care, family child care, transitional kindergarten and other options are explained. Check out the Frequently Asked Questions for more insight into preschool options. Although some of the information is specific to Alameda County much of it can be helpful for families throughout California.
MAP’s County Specific Resources: Organizations that Support Children with Disabilities and Their Families
MAP’s County Specific Resources provides contact information for Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies for each county. These agencies can help connect families with the type of pre-kindergarten option that is best for the family.
Inclusion as an Option for Pre-Kindergarten Programs
Making Sound Preschool Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) Decisions: Guiding Questions for Discussing Services in the LRE
The U. S. Departments of Health & Human Services and Education developed a Policy Statement on Inclusion of Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood Programs to promote the Departments’ position that all young children with disabilities should have “access to inclusive high-quality early childhood programs, where they are provided with individualized and appropriate support in meeting high expectations.” However, across the country, children with disabilities and their families face significant barriers of access to and participation within high-quality inclusive settings. The joint policy statement states, “too many preschool children with disabilities are only offered the option of receiving special education services in settings separate from their peers without disabilities”.
Follow the Guiding Questions for Discussing Services in the LRE to make sound placement decisions for each young child with a disability.
Simple Ways to Promote Inclusion
2025 Inclusive Schools Week Activity Guide: Simple Ways to Promote Inclusion
2025 Inclusive Schools Week December 8-12, 2025 is a perfect opportunity to strengthen our commitment to inclusion, celebrate differences, build connections, and ensure every child feels seen and valued.
The Inclusive Schools Week Activity Guide, a collaborative effort by KIT and Changing Perspectives is full of flexible, low-prep activities that work in schools, camps, before and after school programs, or any group setting. Download and print the full 2025 Inclusive Schools Week Activity Guide to explore all ideas and tools (PDF).
Information and Training on Inclusion in California
IDEA is the foundation of the work of the California Making Access Possible (MAP) to Inclusion and Belonging Project and the Beginning Together Project. Both funded by the California Department of Social Services and operated by WestEd, the purpose of these projects is to help build the capacity for early care and education providers to successfully include children with disabilities or at risk for developmental delays in their programs.
The MAP Project provides a clearing house of resources on inclusion and easy access to county specific organizations supporting children with disabilities and their families as well as quarterly newsletters like this one alerting the early childhood field about the latest resources and events supporting inclusion.
Join the mailing list to be sure to get the latest information on inclusion!
Training and Technical Assistance on inclusion is a category of resources on the MAP website that has recently been updated. It provides links to state and national projects and organizations that provide training on inclusion. Explore the offerings by looking at the various categories by age, state department funded projects or national or online. Featured below is one of those projects, Beginning Together.
Beginning Together
Beginning Together conducts an annual series of webinars on inclusion and an annual intensive four-week Inclusion Facilitator Institute that provides training to small teams of early care and education coaches, teachers, child care providers, administrators and special educators. It offers the option of continuing on to become a certified Inclusion Facilitator. Find information on both of these opportunities for training in the link above.
Resources and Activities to Celebrate IDEA All Year Long
SELPA Administrators of California (California Special Education Local Plan Area Administrators) are Celebrating the IDEA 50th Anniversary All Year Long!
In 1977, all school districts and county school offices in California were required to form geographical regions of sufficient size and scope to provide for all special education service needs of students residing within the region’s boundaries. Each region became known as a Special Education Local Plan Area, or SELPA. The SELPA Administrators of California is a statewide association made up of nearly all current and retired SELPA administrators.
SELPA Administrators of California have planned a celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act throughout the 25/26 school year. Every month they invite you to participate in engaging activities that will facilitate learning, promote recognition and inclusion, and celebrate diversity.
Each month, theme-based activities and resources will be shared. You can access these monthly celebration activities through the SELPA of California Facebook.
Here is a sample:
- August 2025: The Foundations of IDEA and a Look Back (PDF)
- October 2025: Individual Education Programs (IEPs) & Student Voice (PDF)
- November 2025: Special Education Related Services & Support (PDF)
This activity is administered by WestEd and is sponsored by the California Department of Social Services, Child Care and Development Division.