Introduction

History of Discrimination

IDEA

Section 504

ADA

Conclusion

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Printable Version of entire Legal Rights and Protection Unit

In this module we will be taking a look at the legal aspects of disability. First, you will be presented with an overview of the history of discrimination for people with disabilities. We review this history to give you a better understanding of when and why the laws we have were put into effect. Within this overview you will learn about two landmark cases [Mills v. Board of Education, and Pennsylvania Association of Retarded Citizens (PARC) v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania] that helped pave the way for the rights of people with disabilities.

Following this brief history, we will focus on three important laws for people with disabilities. First is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (1975). This law has been revised several times and we will be looking at the most current revisions of this act. Next is Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (1973). This is an important law that extended civil rights to people with disabilities. The third law we will discuss is the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990). This law is similar to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and we will overview the similarities and differences. So let’s get started, beginning with a trip back through time and a look at the history of disability discrimination.

When you have reviewed these links and completed all the activities, ask your teacher to give you access to the quiz on this unit!