Historical Events in Special Education

By mgshand

  • The Smiths-Sears Veterans Rehabilitation Act

    This act was established to help with veterans who were disabled coming home for war. Although the concerns were not for all disabled people, concerns about veterans returning from war began to rise.

  • The League of the Physically Handicapped

    This was formed as one of the first disabilities organizations to make discrimination in policy and employment its primary issue. Created in New York City, the League of Physically Handicapped formed to protest discrimination by the Works Progress Administration (WPA).

  • Brown v. Board

    Brown v. Board of Education was a catalyst for families of children with disabilities to challenge the segregated nature of special education. Families wanted to extended the idea to their children with disabilities and advocate for this civil rights issue.

  • Congressional Investigation

    Congress investigates and finds that less than half of the estimated 8 million children with disabilities in the US were receiving an “appropriate” education. 1.75 million were receiving no schooling at all.

  • Americans with Disabilities Act

    In 1990, President George H. W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA extended the rights provisions and non-discrimination to the private sector. This included employment, public services, transportation, and communication.

  • The Education for all Handicapped Children’s Act

    The Education for all Handicapped Children’s Act became the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. President Clinton reauthorized the Idea with several key amendments that emphasized providing all students with access to the same curriculum.

  • Claire was born

  • Kay and Maddy were born

  • Congress Amended IDEA

    Congress amended IDEA by calling for early intervention for students, greater accountability, and improved educational outcomes, and raised the standards for instructors who teach special education classes. It also required states to demand that local school districts shift up to 15% of their special education funds toward general education if it was determined that a disproportionate number of students were placed in special education for reasons other than disabilities.

  • First Episode of Hannah Montana Aired

  • The 2008 election between John McCain and Barack Obama.

  • The COVID Pandemic starts and impacts the lives of people around the world

  • Return to School Roadmap

    The United States Department of Education releases its Return to School Roadmap: Child Find Under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This roadmap is a guide for schools to support students with disabilities while returning to school during a pandemic. The roadmap includes suggestions for how to continue supporting students while staying safe.