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Wild Boy of Aveyron
Jean Marc Itard found the wild boy of Aveyron living in the woods. Itard worked with the boy for five years and proved that intensive treatment could help those with special needs learn. Itard is considered the father of special education by many. This is significant because it showed those with special needs were capable of learning. Jean Marc Gaspard Itard. (n.d.). Retrieved November 22, 2014, from http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~duchan/new_history/enlightenment/itard.html -
Howe began the School for the "Idiotic"
Samuel Gridley Howe began the School for Idiotic and Feeble Minded Youth in Massachusetts. Howe was responsible for educating Laura Bridgman and Helen Keller. This is significant to special education as it was the first publicly funded residential school in the United States for students with disabilities. The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. (n.d.). Samuel Gridley Howe (American educator). Retrieved October 16, 2014, from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/273525/Samuel-Gri -
Pennsylvania Training School
The Pennsylvania Training School was established by Edouard Seguin for "feeble-minded children". The school was originally created in Germantown, PA. This event is significant to Special Education because it was the first educational facility for people with Intellectual Disabilities. (1852). “Pennsylvania Training School for Feeble Minded Children. Elwyn, PA Front view”. Images from the History of Medicine U.S. National Library of Medicine. Photograph. http://www.ihm.nlm.nih.gov/luna/servlet -
Test
Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon created a test in France to screen students who were not gaining from the general education classroom. This was significant because the test identified students with Intellectual Disabilities.
Robert M. Yerkes. (1921) "Psychological Examining in the United States Army," Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. XV. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. Photograph. http://www.understandingrace.org/about/credits_images.html (November 17, 2014) -
Published test
Lewis Terman published the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale in the U.S. This was significant because many schools now used IQ testing to identify children with Intellectual Disabilities. IQ tests later classified children based on their scores and placed them in preparation for different education. Ravitch, D. (2001). Left back: A Century of Battles Over School Reform. New York: Touchstone. -
Edgar Doll
Edgar Doll created the Vineland Social Maturity Scale that measured a persons adaptive behavior. Adaptive behavior is daily living skills such as getting dressed, going to school, walking, talking. This was significant because adaptive behavior became a component for identifying students with Intellectual Disabilities. Heward, W. (n.d.). Exceptional Children: An Introduction to Special Education (p. 139). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson. -
Parents
Parents worked together to form the National Association for Retarted Children, otherwise known as the ARC. ARC works to support those with Intellectual Disabilities and their familes they are still heavily involved in the field today. Heward, W. (n.d.). Exceptional Children: An Introduction to Special Education (p. 139). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson.
History of The Arc. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2014, from http://www.thearc.org/who-we-are/history -
Brown vs. Board
Prior to the Brown vs. Board decision, children who wanted an education could not attend public schools. A group of lawyers went to court utilizing the Brown vs. Board decision to argue that students with disabilities deserved to have the same equal education that black students had.
(1954). “Judgement Brown v. Board of Education” National Archives and Records Administration: Records of the Supreme Court, Record Group 267. http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/brown-v-board/ -
(PL 85-926)
National Defense Education Act was created in 1958. This was significant to special education because it gave funds for professionals to train teachers of chldren with Intellectual Disabilities. Teachers were receiving training on how to work with those with disabilities. The students with disabilities were also receiving a better education due to this. National Defense Education Act of 1958. (n.d.). Retrieved November 18, 2014, from http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=11211 -
First defintion
The American Association on Mental Retardation created its first definition and classification of mental retardation. An IQ score of 1 standard deviation below the mean meant that a person had an Intellectual Disability. This changed the field of special education because many students were identified in the category of mental reatardation and received an education that was geared towards those who were "slower". Heward, W. (n.d.). Exceptional Children: An Introduction to Special -
John F. Kennedy
In 1961, John F. Kennedy created the first Presidents Panel for Mental Retardation.The creation of this panel was significant to special education because it aimed to assist national policy when considering intellectual disabilities.
Abbie Rowe. (1962) “Meeting with the Panel on Mental Retardation”. Photograph. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum: AR 7543-A 1962. http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/NjAG1F12wU-AVNw7nTAExQ.aspx (accessed November 20, 2014) -
(PL 89-10)
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act was created in 1965 as a part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's "War on Poverty". Significant to special education because it provided money to states and local school districts to develop programs for poorer families and children with disabilities.
(1965). “Elementary and Secondary Education Act”. LBJ Presidential Library. Photograph. http://www.lbjlibrary.org/press/lbj-in-the-news/senator-tom-harkin-introduces-education-measure -
Willowbrook
The Willowbrook State School was a school for children with Intellectual Disabilities in Staten Island, NY. Reporter Geraldo Rivera showed up to the institution unannonced, saw the disgusting conditions of the school. When this was reported on national television, the public saw how people with disabilities were being treated. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_sYn8DnlH4
(n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2014, from http://www.asylumprojects.org/index.php?title=Willowbrook_State_School -
(PL 93-112)
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act was created. This was significant to special education because it stated that a person could not be excluded because of their disability from any program receiving federal funds. Some students with ADHD receive their related services under Section 504 as IDEA does not have its own category for ADHD.
(1973). “Chapter 4- Vocational Rehabilitation of Persons Injured in Industry. Department of Health and Human Services USA. Document. http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/ -
(PL-94-142)
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act was created. This act stated free appropiate public education for all children with disabilities ages 6 to 21 must be made available to them. This act required an IEP for each child with a disability and students with disabilities must receive education in least restrictive environment. Professional Resources. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2014,from http://college.cengage.com/education/resources/res_prof/students/spec_ed/legistlation/pl_94-142.html -
AAMR
AAMR published "System 92" this was a different definition of mental retardation with a classification system based on intensity of supports. This was siginificant to special education because the new definition helped to see those who were really intellectually disabled and those who they may have thought to be intellectually disabled but were low achievers. Heward, W. (n.d.). Exceptional Children: An Introduction to Special Education (p. 139). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: -
AAMR changes its name
AAMR changed its name to the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and replaced the term Mental Retardation with Intellectual Disabilities. This new term provides a logical basis for providing supports, and is less offensive. Prabhala, A. (n.d.). Mental Retardation Is No More New Name Is Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Press Releases: Society for Accessible Travel -
"Rosa's Law"
President Barack Obama signed Rosa's Law which compensates for language by replacing all references to mental retardation with the term Intellectual Disability. This law was named after a 9 year old girl with Down Syndrome who wanted a similar law to be passed in Maryland where she lived. James, S. (2009, November 18). Rosa's Law to End Term 'Mentally Retarded' Retrieved November 16, 2014, from http://abcnews.go.com/Health/rosas-law-asks-senate-kill-slur-mentally-retarded/story?id=9109319
