IDEA Anniversary (Nov 29, 1975): What’s Changed—and What Hasn’t
By: Dr. Gabrielle Baker, President & Advocate
On November 29, 1975, the United States passed one of the most important civil rights laws for children with disabilities: the law that eventually became the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA. Before this law existed, more than a million children with disabilities were denied access to public school entirely, and millions more were placed in segregated or inadequate settings without support. The anniversary of IDEA is a reminder of how far we have come, and how far we still have to go.
When IDEA was created, the intent was simple but powerful: every child with a disability has the right to a free appropriate public education, individualized services, nondiscrimination, and meaningful access to learning. That foundational promise still stands today. Schools must evaluate students, provide specialized instruction, include students in general education settings when possible, and collaborate with parents as equal members of the team. These core rights changed the landscape of public education forever.
Over the decades, IDEA has strengthened protections and expanded services. The law added early intervention for infants and toddlers, transition planning for life after high school, procedural safeguards for parents, and clearer definitions of what counts as appropriate instruction. The standard for student progress has also evolved, especially after the Supreme Court’s Endrew F. decision, which emphasized that IEPs must be reasonably calculated to enable meaningful progress, not minimal or trivial growth.
But even with these gains, many of the challenges that existed decades ago still persist today. Families continue to face delays in evaluation, inconsistent implementation of IEPs, shortages of related service providers, and unequal access across districts. Some schools still rely heavily on restraint, exclusion, shortened days, or informal removals, practices that conflict with the spirit of IDEA. And while the law mandates inclusion, many students remain segregated unnecessarily due to limited staffing, training gaps, or outdated beliefs about disability.
Parents also shoulder much of the responsibility for enforcing the law. IDEA gives families strong rights, but those rights are only as effective as the school’s willingness to follow them and the parent’s ability to advocate for their child. This means that the promise of IDEA can look very different from one district to the next, and students with significant needs often face the greatest barriers.
As we mark this anniversary, the message is clear: IDEA created a foundation that changed millions of lives, but the work is far from finished. For every child whose IEP is implemented faithfully, there is another whose services are delayed or denied. For every school that embraces inclusion, there is another that resists or lacks resources. The law is strong, but the implementation is uneven.
The anniversary of IDEA is not just a celebration of progress but a reminder of responsibility. Schools must uphold the law, states must provide adequate funding and oversight, and families must be empowered with knowledge and support. Every child deserves the opportunities that IDEA promised in 1975: meaningful access, individualized support, and an education that prepares them for a successful future.
At Education Advocates of America, we see the gaps every day, but we also see what’s possible when schools follow the law and parents have the tools to advocate. The spirit of IDEA is alive, and with continued accountability and advocacy, its promise can be fully realized for every student.
