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The American School for the Deaf founded by Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet was opened in 1817. The school was the first to educate children/students with disabilities in the United States focusing on establishing schools for the deaf. This marked the first effort to educate people with disabilities in the U.S. -
The Smith-Hughes Act was passed, directly providing federal funding for vocational education, which indirectly impacts special education by promoting practical skills training for students with disabilities. This was in effect because of the first vocational rehabilitation for soldiers who were wounded from WWI and Congress would fund a program for job counseling and vocational training for people who had disabilities. -
The Arc (originally the National Association of Parents and Friends of Retarded Children) was the first organization to put money towards and into research on intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization was created by parent groups of disabled children in Minneapolis. The arc was and still has been able to support parents and children with advocacy.
[https://thearc.org/about-us/stories/] -
This court case laid the foundation for challenges to segregated education, including that of students with disabilities. The court case brought attention to blacks v. whites in school and special needs students v general education students. The case encouraged and informed the public of the need for special education programs. -
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act was enacted, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disabilities in federally funded programs, including schools. Therefore students with disabilities could not be excluded from public education and due process rights apply to special education cases. -
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA), now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), was signed into law, mandating a free and appropriate public education for students with disabilities. The law required free and appropriate public education in nonrestrictive environments for disabled children.
This is explained well in this YouTube video
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4Xzvafi-Pg] -
The Handicapped Children Protection Act confirmed that students with disabilities have protections against exclusion from school due to behavioral issues related to their disabilities. Provided free, appropriate public education for handicapped children, as well as due process procedures. -
The No Child Left Behind Act was signed into law, emphasizing accountability and assessment in education, including for students with disabilities. The act increased students' progress and the role of standardized testing. Since then the act has increased the amount of schools meeting the state set-standards. -
IDEA is reauthorized with a focus on aligning special education with general education standards, ensuring access to the general education curriculum, and providing support for students with disabilities. President Bush signed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, a major reauthorization and revision of IDEA. -
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is signed into law, replacing No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and continuing to emphasize accountability, assessment, and support for students with disabilities. This advanced equity by upholding critical protections for America's disadvantaged and high-need students.