Which piece of legislation was originally aimed at preventing discrimination in educational environments?

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was groundbreaking legislation aimed at prohibiting discrimination against individuals with disabilities, especially in education and employment settings. Specifically, Section 504 of this act plays a crucial role in ensuring that students with disabilities have equal access to educational opportunities and are not discriminated against in school environments.

This legislation established the foundation for subsequent laws by defining the rights of individuals with disabilities and mandating that schools provide appropriate educational supports to prevent discrimination based on disability. It laid the groundwork for later laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, both of which aimed to further extend and clarify the rights of individuals with disabilities in various public settings, including education. Public Law 94-142, while often associated with specific protections for students with disabilities in education, is essentially another name for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. However, it is the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that is specifically recognized for its broader non-discrimination objectives, including educational environments.