The Foundation of Special Education: Laws and History

In order to understand the foundation of special education, a student must first be knowledgeable about the laws that created the system. The struggle disabled children of the past had to go through is widely unknown and this Webquest will work to uncover history. The brave men and women who fought for equal rights in the educational system will not be forgotten. Those who fought for change are the ones who set the foundation for what special education is today!

Exciting news! The US Justice System has given you an excellent opportunity to time travel! Do not disappoint them! A group of 4 students will time travel to the past and evaluate laws/acts that established rights for the disabled child in the educational system. Beware! The time travel capsule only allows for 2 days in the past, so use your time wisely. You can delegate different time periods or Acts to individual group members. You will conduct research on your chosen law/act from the resources provided. In order to delegate tasks between the 4 group members, each will be assigned a 15-year time period: 1955-1970, 1970-1985, 1985-2000, and 2000-2015.

Task 1:Each student will research significant laws/acts in their time period

Task 2: Each student will pick ONE significant law or act to bring back to the group.

Task 3: On day 2 of time travel, the group will come together and discuss their chosen law/act. As a group, you all will determine which law/act had the MOST impact on the special education system today.

Task 4: As a group, you all will write a formal time traveler report to the US Justice System explaining your journey and your decision on what law/act helped create the foundation for special education the MOST. 

Task 1: Each student will research significant laws/acts in their time period

• choose your own time period or decide as a group who will do what
• research laws regarding disabilities or special education, enacted during your time period
• in order to be able to choose which law was most significant in your era, research at least 3 during your time period
• take notes regarding the details of the law, who was involved, and who was affected. *note: you can also include disability rights/laws in your research, along with special education law
• use the following RESOURCES for your research:
  1. https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/timeline-of-laws-in-special-education
  2. https://www.umassglobal.edu/news-and-events/blog/special-education-laws
  3. https://educationonline.ku.edu/community/idea-timeline
  4. https://sites.ed.gov/idea/IDEA-History
  5. https://www.wrightslaw.com/law/art/history.spec.ed.law.htm
  6. http://www.nationalforum.com/Electronic%20Journal%20Volumes/Bain%20De%20Los%20Santos,%20Stephanie%20A%20Timeline%20oF%20Students%20With%20Disabilities-NFSEJ%20V30%20N1,%202019.pdf
  7. https://www.sutori.com/en/story/special-education-law-timeline--rVP2zoTsQMJky9Bjzz52Ez66
  8. https://www.wgu.edu/blog/special-education-history-resources-advice2001.html
  9. https://youtu.be/hBN1Dgwsx8Y
  10. https://youtu.be/-rlyH97n9Aw

Task 2: Each student will pick ONE significant law or act from their time period to bring back to the group.

• Consider your research and answer these questions in your head when considering which to pick...
  • Did the law change all student's lives, or just specific ones?
  • Did the law establish resources for those with disabilities?
  • Did the law consider all disabilities, and not specific ones?
  • Did the law establish guidelines that have to be followed by school systems?
  • Did the law establish guidelines/interventions that are still used today?
• After deciding on which law is most significant in your time period, write a short paragraph on why you chose it, considering the questions above. Each person will present their reasoning to their group. 

Task 3: On day 2 of time travel, the group will come together and discuss their chosen law/act. As a group, you all will determine which law/act had the MOST impact on the special education system today. Time travel can be a democracy! Take a vote in your group and decide whose law/act is MOST significant. 

Task 4: As a group, you will write a formal time traveler report to the US Justice System explaining your journey and your decision on what law/act helped create the foundation for special education the MOST. It must be at least 1 page and you must provide evidence from the resources provided. The US Justice System needs your help! (Remember, you will be evaluated on INDIVIDUAL performance as well as a group, so contribute to writing this equally!)

Students will be evaluated through a peer evaluation. Time traveling is a group effort and peers will assess if one another put in the appropriate, quality work. Each section in the rubric is worth 20 points for the highest, 10 for average, and 5 for the lowest, all for a possible total of 60 points. The group's formal statement will also be evaluated by a persuasive writing rubric for a possible total of 40 points. Each of these sections will be worth a max of 8 points for exceptional, 6 for satisfactory, 4 for below average, and 2 for insufficient.

file:///Users/emilysiniavsky/Downloads/Webquest%20Rubrics.html

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This WebQuest immerses students in the history of special education and initiates critical thinking within a group. Students will have used research, delegation, decision-making, and persuasiveness after completing this project. It will allow them to "time travel" and use their imagination to learn about the laws regarding special education and disabilities. Not only should they end up learning specific laws in their time period, but with effective collaboration, they should learn about laws in all time periods! Learning the foundation should expand their knowledge greatly!