IDEA at 50: Live Fireside Chat with Dr. Ed W. Martin Jr., Co-Author of the Law Behind Every IEP Overview

We kicked off our 2026 with a living legend: Dr. Edwin W. Martin Jr., the original architect of the federal legislation that became IDEA.

Dr. Martin is a giant in the field of special education policy. His credentials map the history of the disability rights movement:

• Bipartisan Leader: He served under Presidents Johnson, Nixon, Ford, and Carter, proving that the rights of children transcend politics.
• The Co-Author: As a key congressional staffer and Director of the Bureau of Education for the Handicapped, he was instrumental in drafting P.L. 94-142.
• The First Assistant Secretary: He was appointed by President Carter as the first-ever U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.