History of Special Education

  • Paris Institute for the Blind

    Under the direction of Valentin Hauy, a school for blind youth opened in Paris in June of 1784.
  • Period: to

    1784-2011

  • Beginning of Special Education

    Beginning of Special Education
    The first physician to believe in educational interventions was Jean-Marc Gaspard Itard. He worked at the National Institution of Deaf-Mutes.
  • School for the deaf was establised.

    The Connecticut Asylum for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons was established. This was the first school for the deaf in the U.S.
  • Perkins Institute for the Blind*

    Perkins Institute for the Blind was the first chartered school for the blind in the U.S.
  • The first American mental health organization was established.*

    The Association of Medical Superintendents of American Institutions, now called American Psychiatric Association.
  • Law passed to support educational programs for students who are blind.

    Public Law 45-186 created education for the blind.