O'Rourke, Kathleen

Historically, individuals with special needs have been isolated from society and educational opportunities. Though the professional care for these individuals improved in two hundred years, only since the passage of Public Law 94-142, in the past twenty-seven years, have the needs and accomplishments of special needs individuals been made public. Based on ten years in the classroom, one special educator experienced the need for parents and classroom teachers to have a resources reference for educating special needs individuals and to improve the communication among parents, classroom teachers and special educators. Each group should have an understanding of some history of persons with disabilities, the legislative timeline implemented to aid these individuals, the process in which special education services are provided within a public school setting, and alternatives to resolving disputes. A survey to establish baseline data concerning communication and knowledge was designed and gathered within one Colorado school district.