History of Special Education

  • American Asylum for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb

    The 1st residential school in the U.S. Rev. Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet becomes the president.
  • Braille Code

    Louis Braille published the Braille Code. A form of raised dots that represent letters and numbers.
  • Massachusetts School for Idiotic and Feeble Minded Children

    The school was established by Samuel Gridley.
  • Plessy vs. Ferguson

    The "separate but Equal" doctrine was constitutionally upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court of racial Segregation. Throughout the civil rights movement we know that separate is not equal.
  • Beattie Vs Board of Education

    Student with special needs were expelled from school due to abnormalities of the face and drooling. Teachers were "nauseated" by his appearance.
  • Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)

    First advocacy group for children with disabilities. It is now one of the largest advocacy groups to ensure that each child receives Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).
  • Association for Retarded Children (ARC)

    Association for Retarded Children was founded. Now known as the Association for Retarded Citizens.
  • Brown Vs. Board of Education

    A landmark court case that overturned Plessy vs Ferguson. Attention was brought to black vs white's in school and general education vs special education students was unconstitutional.
  • Mills Vs. Board of Education in District of Columbia

    The ruling made it unlawful for the Board of Education in District of Columbia to deny students with disabilities.
  • Handicapped Children's Protection Act

    Law signed by Ronald Regan that gave parents more say in the development of their child's Individual Education Plan (IEP).
  • Americans with Disabilities Act

    Law passed by President George Bush in that all persons with disabilities will be treated equally without discrimination.
  • IDEA signed into law

    Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was signed into law by George W. Bush. IDEA has 4 sections and 6 pillars: LRE, IEP. FAPE, parent/student participation, evaluation, and procedural safeguards.
  • No Child Left Behind Act

    Law signed by George W. Bush that all students should be proficient in math and reading by the year 2014.