On November 29, 1975, President Gerald Ford signs the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (Public Law 94-142). The landmark measure requires that all children with physical, mental, emotional and learning disabilities have access to “free, appropriate public education” tailored to their needs.
In a statement issued at the signing, Ford expressed support for the bill’s goal but questioned the feasibility of its implementation: “Unfortunately, this bill promises more than the federal government can deliver, and its good intentions could be thwarted by the many unwise provisions it contains… Everyone can agree with the objective stated in the title of this bill—educating all handicapped children in our nation. The key question is whether the bill will really accomplish that objective.”