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American School for the Deaf
The American School for the Deaf was the first school established for exceptional education exclusively in the United States. The school created American Sign Language, creating further advancement opportunities for the deaf community. The school is still in operation today. -
Council for Exceptional Children
The Council for Exceptional Children was founded by a group of educators at the Teacher’s College at Columbia University along with their professors. The council began with 12 members. It is still going strong today and will be celebrating 100 years next year.
I have linked their website here. -
National Association for Retarded Children
The National Association for Retarded Children was founded by a meeting of parents from all over the U.S. in Minneapolis, MN. This association is now called “The Arc of America” as the term “retarded” began being used in a derogatory manner towards those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Arc is still active today, advocating in political issues that affect those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act was a big piece of legislation included in Lyndon B. Johnson’s “War on Poverty. This act included the creation of the Title I program which allocates funds to schools with a high percentage of students coming from low-income families. Title III allocated for special education resources in rural and/or isolated areas. The various components of this act are still intensely debated today. -
PARC v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children filed a class-action lawsuit against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in January of 1971. The lawsuit claimed that the current state laws denied a free publicly funded education to those with mental disabilities. The court ruled that it was unconstitutional to deny any child, with a disability or not, the right to have a free and public education. -
Vocational Rehabilitation Act
The Vocational Rehabilitation Act is a federal law that approves grants to states for vocational rehabilitation services, supported employment, independent living, and client assistance. It prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs conducted by federal agencies, receiving federal financial assistance, in federal employment, and in the employment practices of federal contractors. It was renamed the Rehabilitation Act and has been revised several times. -
Educational Amendments Act
The Educational Amendments Act provided funding for students with disabilities and students who are gifted and talented. It also outlined the due process rights for students and families. The act revised the Elementary and Secondary Education act’s Title I assistance. -
Education for All Handicapped Children
Education for All Handicapped Children is a federal law. It requires public schools to provide appropriate education for handicapped children, aged 3 through 21. It has been revised over the years. -
Honig v. Doe
Honig v. Doe is a class action lawsuit that began when a 17-year-old, defined as “John Doe” to protect his identity, was suspended from a California public school for violent and disruptive behavior that was directly related to his disability. Doe said that this violated his rights under the Education for All Handicapped Children Act because the violence he displayed was a direct result of his disability. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
IDEA replaced Education for All Handicapped Children. It established a person-first language and expanded special education services. It also added provisions for due process and confidentiality. Additionally, autism and brain injury was specified in this law as categories. It provided bilingual education and required transition services/planning.
Here is a video that goes into further detail -https://youtu.be/3XMndYNEGFA -
Cedar Rapids v. Garrett F.
This court case required IDEA to provide continuous nursing services to disabled students who need them during the day. Garret F. was a student who was in a motorcycle accident at age 4 and became quadriplegic. He needed continuous nursing care throughout his day at school. His mother asked the school board to provide the nursing care and they told her that they would not.