the education for all children act was passed in 1975 and it maintained itself in its original version until 1990. it was at this time when the the 1975 law received a major boost. in 1990 this law became one of the world's most progressive and empathetic education laws, it became interwoven with the d.n.a of our public education system, this was i.d.e.a (the individuals with disabilities education act). for the first time in this countries story, people with disabilities were afforded the same educational rights as typically developing individuals. i.d.e.a made it so that students with disabilities could truly be given their right to a "free appropriate public education" (f.a.p.e.) system.
since 1990 not all has been forward progress, there have been moments of intense struggle within the context of the special education movement, however, the overall trend has shown that individuals with disabilities are better off than they were in 1990 (as a whole) and far better than they were in 1975. some of the issues we face today, include, but is far from limited to: prejudicial practices against black and latino folk; full and equitable inclusion in most schools; the iep process, many would say, is far from holistic and complete; teachers still require far more training in pedagogical practices, like differentiation, multiple means of expression, and restorative practices; school harassment by peers, and workers, is rampant in many areas of the united states; and, of course, our incredibly low federal public education funds. there is so much work to be done as it is, now it seems we have actually gone back in time, you know, 'making america ableist again.'
individuals with disabilties are by now used to the feeling of being marginalized by our ableist society, but they have been able to hold off the various attacks towards public education due to the, relative, progress that has been accomplished and fought for by their very voices, thoughts, movements, love. today, as i sit here writing this i feel like we have gone back to 1975. a world where people are seriously debating wether it is or is not okay to support all students in their life given right to a dignified public education experience.
i knew donald trump was going to get elected the day he taunted a person with a physical disability and was cheered on by thousands - that was power, the kind you see from a very troubled teenage bully. in this country it is not true that the bully's do not become successful, quite the contrary, i think this country has always been supported and perpetuated by the biggest of societies bullies. there is no doubt in my soul that this man will cause significant harm to all individuals in our public education system, and even more detrimental to our barely decent special education programs.
source: telegraph.co.uk
as betsy devos was being questioned by this country's senators for confirmation of her secretary of education seat, i was being consumed with anger. i pulled back my tears of fear. here was a person that did not know a single damn thing about our public education system; when she got questioned about the laws for individuals with disabilities, her blank face must have been very reassuring for the millions of parents with kids with disabilities, people like my parents. her only qualifications were to be a product of a complete private education system, being born rich, and potentially, having a brother, erik prince, that began blackwater - one of the top american mercenary groups, whom has been shown to accumulate various humxn rights violations.
source: businessinsider.com
there are several reforms that the trump administration and devos want to move through congress and the department of education, from ending various programs that seek to help with the overrepresentation of black and brown students in special education to school voucher systems, "free choice," that would eliminate an individual's right to the protections offered by i.d.e.a.
we can't afford to wait around and have this administration crumble our loosely taped together public education system. our students do not deserve this. i will not accept having a better education than the next generation - every subsequent generation must be better than the last. this administration will do whatever it can to continue attacking our education system. if you believe that all students deserve the right to a dignified education than i am going to have to ask you to please do something, asap.
organize. mobilize. agitate.
together we can. juntas y juntos podemos.