Special ed programs in public schools are nothing new. My school system had special ed classes; and that was over 25 years ago. The school provided classes that helped the retarded kids become capable of taking care of themselves. Depending on the nature of the problem, they are sometimes trained for basic service industry employment including janitorial work.
Generally, those with profound disabilities rode the "short bus." A kid with mild cerebral palsy could ride the "normal bus." Some of us stuck up for the handicapped kids.
As part of my sociology class in High School, I went to a local elementary school and tutored "Special Ed" kids. Some of those "retarded" kids had amazing math skills.
And when I went to high school, we didn't have "sociology." Maybe that's a big part of the problem, one way or the other.
ML/NJ