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First school for mentally retarded students opened
Edouard Seguin opened the first school for children with mental retardation. His methods incorporated practices used by Jean-Marc Gaspard Itard for work with deaf children. The school serviced 30 students and focused on sensory and motor development. (Wood, 2006). -
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Important Dates in the History of Special Education
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Formation of the President's Committee on Mental Retardation
President Kennedy formed the President’s Committee on Mental Retardation. This committee advised President Kennedy on the best ways to meet the needs of people with mental retardation (Wood, 2006). This committee was active until 2001 when President Bush renamed it, “The President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities,” (2003 Executive Orders Disposition Tables: George W. Bush 2003 - Executive Order 13309, 2012). -
1965 Amendments to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
Amendments were made to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) which created a state level grant program. Through the grant program, states were funded if they chose to implement educational programs for individuals (specifically children and youth) with disabilities. This act initiated the Title I program (Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged) that is still operating in schools today (Wood, 2006). -
Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1973
The passing of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments helped spread civil rights coverage to individuals with disabilities. Specifically, the act mandated any program receiving federal funds could not discriminate against or refuse services to a person with a disability; all public schools fell into this category (Wood, 2006). -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act mandated that children with disabilities be included in public school’s educational programs. The act included six components to guide schools as they implemented programs to support students with disabilities: special education, related services, free appropriate public education, due process, least restrictive environment and zero reject (Wood, 2006). -
Individuals with Disabilities Act
Amendments to the Education for All Handicapped Children Act included changing the name of the act to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The name change, although primarily symbolic, shows the change in thinking toward using people first language (Wood, 2006). -
Early Intervention Program
Full implementation of the Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities was accomplished. This program was created in the 1986 amendments to EAHCA but not all states complied with requirements until this date. The program was designed to, “assist states in developing and implementing a statewide, comprehensive, coordinated, multidisciplinary, interagency system,” (p. 9) to provide intervention services for ages birth-3 (Wood, 2006). -
1997 Amendments to IDEA
The 1997 Amendments to IDEA changed transition supports offered to students in special education. The age for starting transition services was lowered to 14 for the student, families and teachers to start working to identify the needs of the student based on their future course of study. By the age of 16 planning includes post school resources for reaching the student’s transitional goals.
