The mothers of Chapter 115 : how Wisconsin mandated special education for all children with disabilities

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The signing of Chapter 115 on August 1, 1973, was arguably the most significant moment in Wisconsin's special education history in the twentieth century. Today, it mandates special education for al...

The signing of Chapter 115 on August 1, 1973, was arguably the most significant moment in Wisconsin's special education history in the twentieth century. Today, it mandates special education for all disabled students in the state of Wisconsin. Before 1973, even though the Wisconsin Constitution guaranteed a free public education to all students, school districts were not obligated by law to provide such programs. In 1972, State Senator James Devitt proposed a comprehensive rewrite of special education legislation. As none of the legislators knew anything about children with disabilities or special education, Devitt appointed five mothers of disabled children and two special education administrators to staff the writing team. The dedicated mothers on the team not only changed special education in the state of Wisconsin, but had influence nationwide as the new law helped create federal legislation guaranteeing special education throughout the U.S. two years later.

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