Before 1975, more than one million children with disabilities in America were excluded from public schools entirely. The Education for All Handicapped Children Act changed everything, mandating that every child—regardless of disability—deserved a free and appropriate public education. This landmark legislation transformed classrooms across the nation and established rights that millions of students depend on today.

In this episode of Signed Into Law, we explore how parents, advocates, and lawmakers fought to open classroom doors that had been closed for far too long, and why this 1975 law remains one of the most important civil rights victories in American education history. Subscribe to Signed Into Law to discover the stories behind the laws that shaped our nation.

This episode includes AI-generated content.