History of Special Education By harpo24 Jan 1, 1773 First Mental Hospital - Virginia Jan 1, 1817 American Asylum for the Deaf Jan 1, 1832 Massachusetts School for Idiotic and Feeble-Minded Youth Jan 1, 1832 Perkins Institue for the Blind Jan 1, 1864 Galluadet College, Washington, D.C. Jan 1, 1896 Rhode Island offers first special education class in U.S. Jan 1, 1905 Dr. Alfre Binet creates IQ test to identify "slow" or "retarded" children Jan 1, 1923 Approx. 34,000 students with disabilities enrolled in special education classes Jan 1, 1972 First Center for Independent Living Jan 1, 1974 President Nixon issues executive order The order returned one-third of the 200,000 people with disabilities in institutions to community residential placements Jan 1, 1975 Education of All Handicapped Children Act Jan 1, 1990 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Jan 1, 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act