History of Special Education

By tllawn
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    Years

  • The first hospital for people with mental disabilities

    The first hospital for people with mental disabilities

    Williamsburg, Virginia plays host to the first insane asylum in the US
  • The first deaf school was created

    The first deaf school was created

    Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet opened the first deaf-mute school in Hartford, Connecticut. This school was inspired by Alice Cogswell, a neighbor who was deaf.
  • Perkin's School for the Blind

    Perkin's School for the Blind

    Perkin's School for the Blind was established in 1829. This is where Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan were educated.
  • Sterilization of People with Disabilities

    Sterilization of People with Disabilities

    In the name of Eugenics, Michigan created a sterilization law to prevent mentally disabled people from reproducing.
  • Binet Test

    Binet Test

    Dr. Alfred Binet created the first "IQ" test to identify "slow" and "retarded" people.
  • Mental Retardation Panel

    Mental Retardation Panel

    President Kennedy elected 26 people to serve on a panel for Mental Retardation. The panel was created to help be an "intensive search for solutions."
  • Education for All Handicapped Children Act

    Education for All Handicapped Children Act

    The Education for All Handicapped Children Act was established by Gerald Ford to create a free education for all students with handicaps. The act included least restrictive environment, IEPs, due process, and much more.
  • IDEA

    IDEA

    The Education for All Handicapped Children Act was changed into the IDEA Act (Individuals with Disabilities Act).
  • 6.6 million students with disabilities

    6.6 million students with disabilities

    There are now over 6.6 million students with disabiltiies being serviced.