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The first special education school in the United States is established in Hartford, Connecticut!
The Connecticut Asylum for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons opened in Hartford, Connecticut. The initial impetus for a school for deaf people came from parents who wanted an education for their deaf children. The school is now called the American School for the Deaf. The American School for the Deaf was the model for education of the deaf for much of the 19th century. Several state-supported or state-operated residential schools for the deaf were established. -
The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) is formed.
AAIDD has been providing worldwide leadership in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities. AAIDD, (formerly American Association on Mental Retardation) is the oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization of professionals and citizens concerned about intellectual and developmental disabilities. They offer member benefits such as professional training, publications and supports. For more information about AAIDD, you can go to http://aaidd.org/ -
The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is created.
Council for Exceptional ChildrenThe CEC is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving the educational success of individuals with disabilities and/or gifts and talents. CEC advocates for appropriate governmental policies, sets professional standards, provides professional development, advocates for individuals with exceptionalities, and helps professionals obtain conditions and resources necessary for effective professional practice. -
PARC v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
This lawsuit determined that all persons considered to be mentally retarded could benefit from education and training. Schools should provide free, public programs to educate and train that are “appropriate to the child's capacity.” It also determined that “a regular public school class” was more beneficial to a child than a “special public school class” and that a special class in a public school was more beneficial than any other type of educational or training program. -
Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia
Mills sues on behalf of 18,000 disabled children stating that disabled children were being denied public education without due process. This lawsuit found children who had disabilities were not to be denied admission, suspended, expelled, reassigned or transferred from regular public school classes without due process of law. A census of all children in the District of Columbia was to be completed to discover any children who were not attending public school. -
Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Section 504 Documentary One of the most important pieces of legislation during the 1970s was the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Section 504 of this act made it illegal for any federal agency, public university, defense or other federal contractor, or any other institution that received federal funding to discriminate against anyone solely on the basis of disability. The language of Section 504 was the same as that of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. -
Education of the Handicapped Act (EHA), Public Law (P.L.) 94-142 was passed.
This law became known as the “Bill of Rights” for students identified with disabilities and their families. PL 94-142 required states that received federal funds to provide to their students with disabilities (ages 3-21) a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment. This is now known as Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). -
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990
The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, state and local government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and telecommunications. It also applies to the United States Congress. To be protected by the ADA, one must have a disability or have a relationship or association with an individual with a disability. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997 (IDEA)
President Clinton signed amendments to the Act that focus on improving the education of children with disabilities by identifying children with special needs before they enter school and providing services to help them. Schools must develop individualized education programs that focus on improving educational results through the general curriculum. They also focus on educating children with disabilities with their nondisabled peers and setting higher expectations for students who are disabled. -
Reauthorization of the IDEA 2004
IDEA is the primary federal program that authorizes state and local aid for special education and related services for children with disabilities. On December 3, 2004, President Bush signed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, a major reauthorization and revision of IDEA. The new law preserves the basic structure and civil rights guarantees of IDEA but also makes significant changes in the law. Most provisions of Public Law (PL) 108-446 went into effect on July 1, 2005.
