People with disabilities have not always been treated fairly. Many changes have taken place to change the way we treat and perceive others who are differently abled. Laws have been created and amended with the aim of improving the quality of life of people with disabilities. People's attitudes towards people with disabilities changed due to litigation which then led to the passing of new laws with the aim of treating others equally. Before the 1800s, society had fearful thoughts about people with special needs. People believed that people with special needs were possessed by demons. Thus, people with disabilities were often put to death or abandoned during this period (S, Truscott, R, Berry and K, Lee, 2004). During the 1800s, thinking began to change. Institutions were created to help protect society from people with disabilities (M, Hardman, C, Drew and M, Egan, 2009). Psychologists and doctors began experimenting with the education of disabled children; which marked the beginning of our current standards (S, Truscott, R, Berry and K, Lee, 2004). In 1971, litigation was filed in Pennsylvania stating that schools must provide free public education to all school-age children with mental disorders. delay (M, Hardman, C, Drew and M, Egan, 2009). Then, in 1990, the same law was renamed the Individuals with Disabilities Educations Act or IDEA (M, Hardman, C, Drew and M, Egan, 2009). This law is the foundation upon which the laws we have today are based. Many amendments were to follow this law to make it what we have today. In 1975, a new law was developed that states that all people have access to free and appropriate public education, regardless of disability (S, Truscott, R, Berry, & K, Lee, 2004). ...... middle of paper ......Mr. Winston. Egan. Human exceptionality: school, community and family. Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon, 2005. Print. “INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2004 (IDEIA), PL 108-446. » Encyclopedia of special education: a reference for the education of children, adolescents and adults with disabilities and other exceptional individuals. Np: Wiley, 2007. Reference Credo. January 19, 2010. The web. May 12, 2014. “Special Education.” Encyclopedia of applied psychology. Np: Elsevier Science & Technology, 2004. Reference Credo. July 3, 2013. the web. May 11 2014. .