ODW2103 – Special Education Law: A Civil Right

Description: Take a dive deep into how Special Education Law is rooted in Civil Rights Law and Disability Law. We walk through the federal government’s responsibility of public education to not only legally provide – but also legally protect – civil and disability rights in education. We discuss the role of the 10th Amendment and its influence on public education as a national policy, as well as States’ rights to promulgate education law. This is an essential part of the conversation regarding public education and disability rights that is often either not acknowledged or not thoroughly discussed. The three main pieces of law discussed are the following: The Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The learning objectives focus on discussing these three pieces of legislation and how each one contributes to – and inherently protects – Special Education Law as a civil right and not a privilege.