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First School for Disabled Children
Formerly known as the Industrial School for Crippled and Deformed Children, now called The Cotting School. Founded by Dr. Edward H Bradford who realized that many of his orthopedic patients were deprived of an education because they were unable to attend school. This school was created to promote the education of the disabled and opened with only eight pupils and one teacher. https://academic.oup.com/ptj/article-abstract/13/3/112/4758869?redirectedFrom=PDF https://youtu.be/d7kJ_84n5as -
Council for Exceptional Children
The Council for Exceptional Children was formed by a group of educators attending Columbia University. It was founded by Elizabeth E Farrell and is a national advocacy organization who represents children with special needs or disabilities. They are the largest internationally recognized organization who is concerned with improving the educational experience of gifted and disabled children. -
Brown V Board of Education
Oliver Brown filed a class action suit against the board of education in 1951, after his daughter was denied entrance to Topeka's all white elementary schools. The supreme court ruled unanimously that racial segregation was unconstitutional. Later causing schools to integrate racially and established that separate education was not equivalent to equal education. https://youtu.be/TTGHLdr-iak -
Division of Handicapped Children and Youth
President John F Kennedy created the Division of Handicapped Children and Youth in the office of education. Groups were sent to study internationally for disabled children and fight for the rights of these children, especially children with mental disabilities. This was later reauthorized as IDEA. -
PARC v Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Thomas K Gilhool represented the PARC and filed the suit on behalf of 14 children who were denied access to a public education. Court ruled in favor of students with both intellectual and learning disabilities to be placed in publicly funded schools that meet their individual educational needs through proper evaluation. https://www.pubintlaw.org/cases-and-projects/pennsylvania-association-for-retarded-citizens-parc-v-commonwealth-of-pennsylvania/ -
Mills v Board of Education
US District Court stated that students categorized as "exceptional" including those with behavioral issues as well as mental and learning disabilities must be given a public education. This ruling made it unlawful for the District of Columbia Board of Ed to deny these individuals access to a publicly funded education. Established that "all children are entitled to free public education and training appropriate to their learning capabilities". -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Formerly known as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. This law made a free appropriate education available to children with disabilities and ensured special education and related services to those children. It specified that all children no matter the disability are entitled to a free public education in the least restrictive environment. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act
President Gerald Ford signed this act, now known as Public Law 94-142. This requires all states that accept federal funding to provide equal access to education for children with disabilities (also requiring them to provide one free meal per day). Requires public schools to provide appropriate educational services to students with disabilities ages 3 to 21. https://study.com/academy/lesson/education-for-all-handicapped-children-act-summary-impact.html -
Roncker v Walter
One of the first cases involving Least Restrictive Environment. The school district thought that child would benefit from a Special Education school and the parents disagreed. An impartial hearing officer found that the school had not satisfied its responsibility of proving that its proposed placement had the maximum appropriate contact with the non disabled persons and ordered the child to be placed within an appropriate special education class in the general education school setting. -
Handicapped Children's Protection Act
President Reagan signed this act (an amendment to the Education for All Handicapped Children Act) which gave parents of children with disabilities the option to participate in the development of their child's individual education plan (IEP). If the parent believes that the IEP is unsuitable, they have a right to a hearing conducted by the State Education Department if dissatisfied by the hearing decision, they can bring their case to state or federal court. -
Honig V Doe
Student was suspended indefinitely for behavior related to his disability. The court ruled that the school violated the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. and declared that the state must provide services to students with disabilities when local school boards fail to. -
Greer v Rome City School District
A young girl with an IQ of 40 was to be placed in a self-contained kindergarten classroom. Her parents objected and wanted her to be in her neighborhood classroom. The court determined that the school failed to consider any LRE before making this decision. This case created the concept of "continuum of placement options". Now prior to moving to a more restrictive placement, the IEP committee must consider, discuss and justify not placing a student in a General Education classroom. -
No Child Left Behind
This is a general education law that established the right of children to have highly qualified teachers, equal accountability and standards. This law led to high expectations for special ed and inclusion through standardized assessment for most children with special needs. It intended to implement teaching methods that were scientifically proven to be successful and effective rather than "fads and trends".
