Fifty years ago, special education in America was born.
In 1975, President Gerald Ford signed the landmark law known today as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA.
It guaranteed all children with disabilities the right to a "free appropriate public education."
Now, amid the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, there's growing concern that protections for students with disabilities are in jeopardy.
For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at
plus.npr.org. Email us at
considerthis@npr.org.
This episode was produced by Kathryn Fink. It was edited by Jeanette Woods and Nicole Cohen. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.
Learn more about sponsor message choices:
podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
