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Samuel Gridley Howe founded the Perkins School for the Blind in Boston, the nation's first school for visually impaired students. It became a center for Braille instruction and vocational training. Perkins inspired similar institutions across the country, promoting societal inclusion through accessible education. -
In 1896, Providence initiated the first public school class dedicated to students with cognitive disabilities. This pioneering move encouraged differentiation in education, emphasizing specially designed teaching strategies to meet diverse learning needs. It marked the beginning of public-school efforts to support children previously excluded from standard classrooms. -
This law ensured a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for all children with disabilities, mandated Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and emphasized the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). It revolutionized special education by establishing enforceable rights and structured support for students with disabilities -
The landmark Supreme Court decision that segregation in public schools violated equal protection. Though centered on race, it also became a legal cornerstone for advocating rights of students with disabilities. This ruling catalyzed broader civil rights advances, including educational access and integration measures -
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed ESEA to support underprivileged students, including those with disabilities, through Title VI grants. While not exclusively a special education law, it marked the federal government's initial commitment to funding quality instruction for diverse learners -
Section 504 banned disability-based discrimination in federally funded programs. Its enforcement was propelled by the historic 504 Sit‑In in San Francisco (1977), where activists occupied a federal building for 26 days. Their efforts successfully compelled the implementation of essential access regulations explores this historic protest:
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In 1979, the U.S. Department of Education established the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services to coordinate federal leadership, funding, and policy on special education nationwide. -
In 1986, services were extended to infants and toddlers (birth–2) under Part C. The 1990 amendments renamed it the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), added autism and TBI categories, and reinforced transition planning and parent rights . -
IDEA 2004 emphasized accountability, alignment with academic standards, and evidence-based education. It introduced provisions encouraging inclusive instructional strategies, data‑based decision‑making, and increased transparency in student outcomes. -