The Pediatrician's Role in Public Law 94-142
Gregg F. Wright MD1
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77550
In the seven years since it was passed, Public Law 94-142, The Education for All Handicapped Act of 1975, has generated new services for handicapped children and in the process has raised many difficult financial, political, educational, medical, and ethical questions. It has changed the scope of public schools and the personnel within them, and it has changed the expectations of parents, physicians, and educators alike. There is currently much talk of the possible repeal of PL 94-142. This review will emphasize the importance of a pediatric voice in this future. The changes that have come about as a result of PL 94-142 will not easily disappear even if the bill were to be repealed. On the other hand, a strong voice of advocacy for handicapped children will be needed to ensure that the positive lessons learned from PL 94-142 will be continued.
PL 94-142 itself, as a law, is only one component of a constellation of surrounding issues affecting handicapped children. One must consider separately the actual provisions of the law, the constitutional and case law on which it was based, the federal regulations that have been published and updated to interpret the law, the state plans formulated by each state to comply with the law and regulations, the funding that may or may not be appropriated at federal, state, and local levels to support the programs, and the actual practices within local school districts attempting to comply (or circumvent) these state requirements.
