IMPACT
Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA)
Public Law 94-142, The Education for All Handicapped Children Act: November 29, 1975, Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse.
In 1975, building on the legal foundation of PARC v. Pennsylvania, Congress passed the EAHCA, ensuring that all public schools receiving federal funding provide free and appropriate education to children with disabilities. Today, under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 7.3 million students receive special education, 95% in regular schools, with over $14 billion in federal funding annually, ensuring continued impact on inclusive education.
"The Education for All Handicapped Children Act is a result of many court decisions, including the historic right to education consent agreement between the Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which was signed in 1971, and established for the first time in the Nation the right of mentally retarded persons to a free public education."
- Senator Schweiker addressing Congress, June 18, 1975
Marcus receiving a FAPE under the IDEA, speaks about how school has personally impacted him, 2018, Knights of Columbus.
"She has a smile that melts away a tough day at work, and a determination that inspires you. She does not speak and has her own unique way of communicating. She communicates through her body language, sounds and eye gaze. People need to spend some time with her before they can understand what she is saying. Learning Michael Ann's language and sharing it with others in her life has made my daughter blossom. She participates in her life more and is happier."
- Quote from parents of a daughter overcoming disability, ArcPA
"AII of these instances have not only helped to assist in reaching Alexa's goals and visions for the future, but they also help to change attitudes about the realities and capabilities of people with disabilities. As parents, professionals, community members and friends all work together to ensure that our world is a welcome place for ALL people, we will invariably prove to ourselves that for every obstacle we face, we can indeed find solutions. Alexa feels very comfortable in her school and community. "
- Quote from parents of a daughter overcoming disability, ArcPA
The ARC of Pennsylvania
The Arc of Pennsylvania, formerly PARC, has championed disability rights for over 75 years, continuously pushing for legislative reforms and expanding inclusive services. In recent years, it has impacted over 13,000 individuals annually through advocacy, education programs, and policy initiatives, strengthening support for people with disabilities statewide.
2024, TheArcPA.
"We must fully include individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in society. Early intervention needs to be prioritized. Special education needs to be properly funded at the state and national level. The workplace needs to be accommodating and open to the skillsets that these individuals have, as they are an untapped resource especially when we have a workforce shortage. Public places need to be accommodating as they are to be for all people."
- Ms. Sherri Landis, Executive Director, The Arc of Pennsylvania, Personal Email Interview
News Article discusses PARC Consent Decree 1972, which gave people with intellectual disabilities the right to an education, 1972, Wrightslaw.