Nov. 29 marked the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, a groundbreaking federal law that ensures children with disabilities are entitled to a free appropriate public education and that they receive related services, such as physical therapy, when needed. Under IDEA Part B (for children ages 3-21) and Part C (for children birth to age 3), school districts and early intervention systems are required to identify, evaluate, and provide services to eligible children. Because physical therapists serve as providers of related services, IDEA's provisions directly affect a child's access to physical therapy and, as a result, their ability to succeed both in and out of the classroom.

Before IDEA was passed in 1975, only 1 in 5 children with disabilities received a formal education. Children with disabilities were often institutionalized, where they received little to no education or critical related services like physical therapy. Over the past 50 years, IDEA has been instrumental in ensuring that all students receive an education. In 2025 alone, over 7 million students with disabilities benefited from IDEA services.