The physician under Public Law 99-457

Area of Science:

• Public Health Policy
• Pediatric Medicine
• Special Education

Background:

• Public Law 94-142 (Education of All Handicapped Children's Act of 1975) established rights to education for handicapped children.
• Implementation of P.L. 94-142 primarily occurred within educational systems.
• Early intervention and services for younger handicapped populations were not fully addressed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the key provisions of Public Law 99-457.
• To analyze the anticipated service delivery models under the new legislation.
• To outline the implications of P.L. 99-457 for medical professionals managing developmental disorders.

Main Methods:

• Legislative review of Public Law 99-457.
• Analysis of the extension of P.L. 94-142 mandates.
• Discussion of early intervention services for infants and toddlers.
• Examination of medical community's role in developmental disorder management.

Main Results:

• Public Law 99-457 extends educational mandates to ages 3-5 and introduces early intervention for ages 0-2.
• The law requires significant collaboration between educational and medical sectors.
• Medical professionals will play a crucial role in identifying and managing developmental disorders in very young children.

Conclusions:

• Public Law 99-457 represents a significant expansion of services for handicapped children, particularly the youngest.
• Effective implementation hinges on the integration of medical expertise into early intervention and educational planning.
• The medical community must prepare for increased involvement in the care and management of developmental disorders from birth.