Before 1975, educational options for a child living with a mental or physical disability were limited. The family of the handicapped child was most likely forced to embark on a path that led to the institutionalization of the child and the removal of the child from the benefits of receiving a free, public education. It was after federal legislation passed the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (42 USC § 1983) that tremendous changes began to unfold that allowed for a better understanding of the needs and abilities of people with various handicapping conditions. Soon after this legislation, Public Law 94-142, also known as the Education for all Handicapped Children's Act of 1975 (EHA), would further increase public awareness by providing a free appropriate public education (FAPE) for children with disabilities. Following the EHA legislation, reforms regarding the education of disabled people would soon become numerous and pieces of legislation were passed allowing accommodations for disabled people in the fields of professions and technology. In 1990, President Gerald Ford signed legislation replacing PL 94-142 with the Individual with Disabilities Education Act of 1990 (IDEA, 20 USC 1400). By definition, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law that provides services to children with disabilities nationwide (U.S. Department of Education, 2011).Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (42 USC § 1983)The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs conducted by federal agencies, in programs receiving federal financial assistance, in federal employment, and in the employment practices of federal contractors (U.S. Department of Justice, 2011... ... half of the document... ...desired to occur in this area of ​​education. Before the EHA and IDEA, how many students were neglected by the public school system? structure that housed the school system As a result of these life-changing laws, you will see a physically disabled professor in front of a class, a paraplegic doctor making his rounds in the hospital. Everyone has a dream. This author's daughter who has fetal alcohol syndrome wants to be a teacher. She is classified as mentally retarded but has goals and dreams. Will he be able to make this particular dream come true? Most likely not, but this author knows that the public education system will provide Hannah with an IEP and a FAPE that will give her the proper tools to live a happy and contented life..