Students with Disabilities

Person-first language

Puts the person before the disability (ex: “student with a disability”).

Identity-first language

Puts the disability/identity first (ex: “autistic student”). The important thing is using the language the individual prefers.

Why does language preference matter?

It shows respect and recognizes that people may prefer different ways of describing themselves.

Strengths-based perspective

Focuses on a learner’s strengths, interests, needs, and evidence instead of limitations.

Deficit-based perspective

Focuses mainly on what a learner cannot do or their perceived limitations.

Disability label

Can help provide access to supports and protections, but does not fully describe the individual.

Accommodation

Changes how a student learns or shows learning without changing the learning expectation.

Modification

Changes what a student is expected to learn or demonstrate

Placement

Where/how a student receives education; placement alone does not guarantee meaningful inclusion.

Access

Opportunity to reach or engage with the educational environment, curriculum, materials, or activities.

Participation

Active involvement in learning and classroom experiences.

Inclusion

Meaningful access and participation with peers, not simply physical presence.

Belonging

 Being recognized and valued as a member of the classroom or school community.

Segregation

 Separation of individuals from peers or community settings.

Institutionalization

Systematic isolation of individuals in institutional settings rather than participation in community life.

Civil right

A legally protected right against discrimination or exclusion.

Educational entitlement

A legal obligation to provide an eligible student an appropriate educational program.

FAPE

 Free Appropriate Public Education.

LRE

Least Restrictive Environment.

IEP

Individualized Education Program.

Appropriate/Nondiscriminatory Evaluation

Evaluation using appropriate information and multiple measures rather than assumptions or biased assessment.

Parent Participation

Meaningful family involvement in educational decision-making.

Procedural Safeguards

Legal protections and processes protecting student/family rights.

Specialized/Specially Designed Instruction

 Instruction individualized to address disability-related educational needs.

What was educational access like before federal protections?

It was not guaranteed and often depended on school or institutional discretion.

How were individuals with disabilities often viewed historically?

Through attitudes of dependence or charity.

What did segregation do?

Separated individuals with disabilities from schools, peers, and community life.

What did institutionalization do?

isolated people from community life in institutional settings.

What power did families have before federal protections?

Families had limited legal power, participation, and ways to challenge decisions.

What was missing before federal protections?

Consistent individualized planning, educational requirements, and legal safeguards.

What was Willowbrook?

A large institution where people with disabilities were housed in overcrowded and poor conditions.

What major problem existed at Willowbrook?

Severe overcrowding.

What other conditions existed at Willowbrook?

Neglect and unhealthy/unsafe daily living conditions.

How did Willowbrook affect residents' dignity?

Residents experienced loss of privacy, individuality, dignity, and basic rights.

How did Willowbrook isolate people?

Residents were separated from normal community life.

Why was the Willowbrook exposé important?

Media exposure made hidden conditions visible to the public.

What did public visibility of Willowbrook lead to?

Public outrage, advocacy, accountability, and pressure for reform.

What does Willowbrook illustrate?

The human consequences of a system based on discretion instead of enforceable rights.

Why is Willowbrook important to special education history?

It helped expose institutional abuse and build pressure for stronger rights and protections.

What did Brown v. Board of Education establish?

Separate educational systems are inherently unequal.

Why is Brown important to disability rights?

It provided a broader civil-rights and equal-access foundation that disability advocates could build upon.

What was PARC v. Pennsylvania about?

Challenged the idea that students with intellectual disabilities were “unteachable” and could be denied public education.

What is the key idea of PARC?

Students with intellectual disabilities have a right to public education.

What was Mills v. Board of Education about?

Educational access and due process for students with disabilities.

What did Mills say about money?

Lack of financial resources cannot be used as a reason to deny a student's educational right

What is P.L. 94-142?

A 1975 federal law that established major educational protections for students with disabilities.

Why is P.L. 94-142 important?

It created the foundation for modern special education and federally protected educational rights.

What is the historical progression to remember?

Exclusion & Institutionalization → Willowbrook/Public Visibility → Legal Action → P.L. 94-142 → Modern Educational Rights

Separate educational systems / equal access = ?

Brown v. Board of Education

“This child cannot benefit from education” / “unteachable” = ?

PARC v. Pennsylvania

“We need the service, but the district can't afford it” = ?

Mills v. Board of Education

Federal codification of educational rights in 1975 = ?

P.L. 94-142

What is the easiest way to remember Brown?

Brown = Separate is unequal

What is the easiest way to remember PARC?

PARC = Students are not “unteachable”

What is the easiest way to remember Mills?

Mills = Money isn't an excuse

What is the easiest way to remember P.L. 94-142?

1975 = Federal special education rights

What does FAPE provide?

An appropriate education addressing an eligible student's individual needs at no cost to the family.

What does LRE mean?

tudents should be educated alongside nondisabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate.

. What does an IEP do?

Documents a student's needs, goals, services, and supports.

What does appropriate/nondiscriminatory evaluation mean?

Evaluation uses appropriate information and multiple measures rather than assumptions or bias.

What do procedural safeguards do?

Protect student/family rights and provide processes for resolving disagreements.

What are the six IDEA principles?

FAPE, LRE, IEP, Appropriate/Nondiscriminatory Evaluation, Parent Participation, Procedural Safeguards.

What is the primary focus of IDEA?

Individualized educational entitlement and specialized instruction.

IDEA asks what main question?

Does the eligible student need specialized instruction to make appropriate educational progress?

What is the primary focus of Section 504?

Equal access, nondiscrimination, and accommodations.

Section 504 asks what main question?

Does the student need barriers removed or accommodations to access general education?

What is the primary focus of ADA?

Broad civil-rights and accessibility protection.

ADA asks what main question?

Is there a disability-related accessibility or nondiscrimination issue?

IDEA vs. Section 504

IDEA provides individualized special education; Section 504 focuses on equal access and accommodations.

Section 504 vs. ADA

Both protect against discrimination, but ADA provides broader accessibility/civil-rights protections.

What was the major problem before federal protections?

Students with disabilities could be excluded, segregated, or institutionalized without consistent legal protections.

What changed through legal action?

Education became recognized as a legally protected right for students with disabilities.

Why was public visibility important?

It exposed harmful conditions and created pressure for change.

What did P.L. 94-142 change?

It federally protected educational rights for students with disabilities.

What is the big historical shift you should understand?

The system moved from discretion and exclusion → legally protected educational rights.

What is the difference between access and participation?

Access means having the opportunity to engage; participation means actually being actively involved.

What is the difference between participation and inclusion?

Participation is active involvement; inclusion means meaningful access and participation with peers.

. What is the difference between inclusion and belonging?

Inclusion means meaningful participation; belonging means feeling recognized and valued as part of the community.

Why doesn't physical placement automatically mean inclusion?

A student can be in the same classroom but still lack meaningful access, participation, or belonging.

What question should you ask when studying the historical/legal progression?

What was the barrier? What changed? Why did the change matter?