Happy Birthday, IDEA: Fans of the main federal law on students with disabilities came together on Capitol Hill last week to celebrate the law鈥檚 upcoming 25th birthday.
President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-142, now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, on Nov. 29, 1975. Representatives from the Department of Education and Congress, along with disability-rights advocates and current special education students, convened last Thursday to discuss the law鈥檚 impact and the work ahead.
鈥淲e鈥檙e in a different place today,鈥� declared Judith E. Heumann, the department鈥檚 assistant secretary for special education and rehabilitative services. 鈥淐ertainly, we see that good things are going on for disabled children, but there are still many cases where this isn鈥檛 happening appropriately.鈥�
Two of the main lobbyists for what was originally called the Education for All Handicapped Children Act moderated the half-day event. Joseph Ballard, who is now retired from the Council for Exceptional Children, and Paul Marchand, the chairman of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, couldn鈥檛 help but reminisce when they saw each other at the Senate snack bar last week, as they had many times in 1975.
鈥淚t was d茅j脿 vu all over again,鈥� Mr. Marchand said.
The participants also honored Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley and several members of Congress for their work on the IDEA.
Budget Update: Mr. Riley and several members of Congress missed the IDEA event, however, because they were discussing the education budget with President Clinton.
Although the new fiscal year began Oct. 1, Congress passed a 鈥渃ontinuing resolution鈥� on Sept. 29 to keep the government open without a new budget. Congress has until Oct. 14 to approve a spending bill or pass another measure to continue funding.
鈥� Joetta L. Sack federal@epe.org
