This paper studies the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act which guarantees access to free public education of the
six million American children with
disabilities. The paper explains that in its 26 year history, IDEA has never been fully funded by Congress. While the paper says that Congress has taken great strides in the last few years, IDEA is still underfunded. The paper cites statistics regarding the educational achievement of people with disabilities and calls on Congress to fulfill their promise of free compulsory education for the
handicapped.