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First American Residential School for Deaf Students
First American residential school for students who were deaf founded by Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet in Connecticut. It became state funded in 1817. -
First American Residential School for Blind Students
Samuel Gridley Howe founded the New-England Institution for the Education of the Blind (later known as the Perkins School for the Blind). -
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Itard and Seguin
late 17th century-mid 18th century-Jean-Marc Itard was the first physician to declare that an enriched environment could compensate for developmental delays caused by heredity or previous deprivation. Up to this time, it had been assumed that mentally retarded people were uneducable. Itard persuaded Edward Séguin to dedicate himself to study the causes, as well as the training of individuals with intellectual disabilities. -
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20th Century "Awakening"
Normalization and deinstitutionalization began in the 20th century. Integration of students with disabilities into general education classrooms (inclusion) began as part of this movement. -
Development of Special Education as a Profession
The International Council for the Education of Exceptional Children is organized by a group of administrators and supervisors at Columbia University, and their faculty members on August 10, 1922. The Council begins with 12 members. Elizabeth E. Farrell was the Founder and first President, 1922-26.
The Council for Exceptional Children (as it is now called) is a professional association of educators dedicated to advancing the success of children with exceptionalities. -
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Organization of Parent Groups
1950s-Parent groups began to form with the goal of providing support, information, and structure for obtaining resources for exceptional students. -
Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Special Olympics
1960s-Eunice Shriver heads the advocacy for caring and fair treatment of individuals with disabilities leading to what is now the Special Olympics and many changes to government policy regarding what was then called the "mentally retarted." -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act
The original act and its amendments ensure that all children and youths with disabilities have a right to free, appropriate, public education. -
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
EHA was renamed to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This law makes available a free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities throughout the nation and ensures special education and related services to those children despite their disability. -
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
The primary purpose of NCLB is to ensure that students in every public school achieve important learning goals while being educated in safe classrooms by well-prepared teachers. NCLB requires schools to close academic gaps between economically advantaged students and students who are from different economic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds as well as students with disabilities. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act
IDEA is improved. The many changes align the provisions of IDEA with No Child Left Behind.
