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As early as the 1800s, students with disabilities were excluded from schools. Plaintiff, A.H. Russel, was excluded from school because his mind couldn't benefit from instruction. Based on what teachers and physicians observed, he was too weak-minded to learn and created a troublesome for students because he made noises and pinched others. They ruled that, “acting in good faith”, the plaintiff would be excluded from school for being a “disturbance to the order and discipline of the school”. -
A professor at Syracuse University launched services/classes for individuals with disabilities. Cruickshank thought that uniqueness should be recognized and teachers shouldn't isolate or neglect students for their disabilities. He set out to change the way the public viewed special needs in education. A local school, the Percy Hughes School, had classes for students with cerebral palsy, sight/hearing loss, and polio. https://library.syracuse.edu/digital/guides_sua/html/sua_cruickshank_wm.htm -
At the time, there weren’t programs/resources to help in the development and care for intellectual disabilities. Usually, doctors told parents that the best place for their children was an institution where they wouldn’t receive an education. But families wanted their loved ones to have the opportunity to lead good lived. The Arc was made up of parents and friends of children with intellectual disabilities that led advocacy to promote human rights, educational inclusion, and fund research. -
During a time of major shifts in civil rights movements, Cold War fears, and the Red Scare, the US Supreme Court ruled that all people regardless of race, gender, or disability, have a right to a public education. The case had involved the refusal to enroll a black student at the school closest to her home, instead requiring her to go to a farther segregated black school. Not only did this establish that separate is unequal, but it also created a basis for disability rights. -
Also known as, Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, guaranteeing that all children with disabilities receive a free and appropriate education (FAPE). Students were in less restrictive environments alongside non-disabled students. This changed education, establishing rights for parents to be involved in their child's education. It ended the widespread exclusion of children with disabilities in public schools. Today, this is known as IDEA. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4Xzvafi-Pg -
A foundation advocating for children with learning disabilities to provide awareness, support, and advocacy. They are dedicated to ensuring that individuals with learning disabilities can succeed in school, work, and life by transforming schools and advocating for policies and rights to break the stigma and create more inclusive environments. -
In this case, a student with a disability that made it difficult for him to control his impulse was teased by a fellow student and responded by attacking the student and breaking a school window. He was suspended and was pending expulsion. A provision was made under the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, that children with emotional or behavioral disabilities could not be suspended or expelled unless the parents and state/local educational agencies agree for removal. -
During 1975, IEPs were introduced under IDEA and FAPE. IEPs are legal documents that outline specialized plans or services tailored to the needs, goals, accommodations, for disabled students. Students were able to be accommodated for within least restrictive environment alongside non-disabled peers. They evolved greatly with the addition of transition services, like ITPs (Individual Transition Plans). This incorporated goals like post-secondary education, employments, and independent living. -
Signed by Barack Obama, Every Student Succeeds Act reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to equal opportunity for all students. For students with disabilities, this meant requiring states to include them in accountability systems, use high standards, offer alternate assessments, report data, set goals, and more. It allows disabled students to be judged in different ways for readiness and diplomas. It maintains accountability and action to make positive changes in all schools, for all students. -
Since the pandemic, EdTech has exploded, bringing technology to education. By offering software and tools like screen readers, text-to-speech, improve accessibility and customized support a range of students with disabilities, EdTech ensures equal access to curriculum and helps bridge gaps in education. Schools can get funding from grants and donation platforms to integrate this technology to their schools. They are research based and have proven to improve learning.