(Go Public Project [GoPublicProject], 2012)
The U.S. approach to education for disabled students is one of the most advanced in the world. In 1975, the Education for all Handicapped Students Act was passed, and in conjunction with the American with Disabilities Act of 1990, the U.S. has made spectacular strides so educators assist handicapped students as best they can.Their education program, above all else, seeks to put disabled students at the same level of learning and efficiency as their non-disabled peers. Typically this means inclusion/mainstreaming of handicapped students, which gives them the confidence to operate at their highest ability, without an excessively stressful environment. Students who need extra help can be placed in separate, smaller classrooms that enable more attention from teachers. At this level, Individual Education Programs are available to ensure that disabled students are getting plenty of attention in the academic aspects with which they need the most help.
(Department of Education, 1997)
The chart above demonstrates the commitment in U.S. public schools to students with learning disabilities, with the majority of public schools offering services for handicapped students in some form. Though the chart doesn't specify the particular programs which are offered, such as IEPs, separate learning environments, or mainstreaming, based on general observations of the United States' system, it is likely that most of the services offered to disabled students were rather comprehensive. Our nation serves as the model for most countries seeking to better their approaches to education for the disabled. The main aspect which needs greater attention in the U.S. is getting all handicapped students more towards inclusion, to level the playing field, rather than having a portion in mainstreamed education and another part in a separate environment. Also, development of programs at the collegiate level has been lacking, just like in almost all countries.