The collection documents the work of Lynwood Beekman and legislative history of Special Education in Michigan. The papers are arranged in five series roughly following Beekman's original arrangement of papers and records. The collection consists primarily of records of the Department of Education and its committees and task forces, as well as Special Education organizations. Also included numerous drafts of legislation, generously peppered with Beekman's scrupulous handwritten notes, and working files.
Lynwood Beekman is a Lansing, Mich. native and the University of Michigan Law School graduate. Beekman's father, Marvin E. Beekman, was Director of Special Education for Lansing Public Schools. He established the nation's first public school work experience program for the mentally disabled. Later, as the State's Director of Special Education, Marvin E. Beekman guided Michigan to a leadership position in service to the mentally impaired.
Lynwood Beekman's 30-year law career has been largely devoted to the representation of parents and their children with disabilities, over 90 Michigan school districts, and the Michigan Education Association and its members, including teachers, school psychologists, school social workers, bus drivers, paraprofessionals, etc. Beekman served in over 600 matters as a hearing officer and state review officer in three states. He has provided consultative assistance or hearing officer and mediator trainings for 46 states and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He has also served as a mediator, neutral evaluator, arbitrator, and complaint investigator in over 300 cases, including several matters pending before state and federal courts. He provided counsel to the Michigan Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC), and sought special education programs and services for many impaired residents of State institutions. Beekman collaborated in drafting the Mandatory Special Education Act and revised Special Education Rules, among other important pieces of Special Education legislation. In 1975 Beekman founded the Citizens Alliance to Uphold Special Education and served as its President for 13 years. In 1976 he was appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to the Special Education Task Force that was primarily drafting of the new or revised Special Education Rules. For six years Beekman served as the Chairperson of the State Board of Education's Special Education Advisory Committee. Beekman also served as Chairperson of the State Board of Education's Special Education Delivery System Task Force.
