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First School for the Deaf Opened
Originally called the “Connecticut Asylum for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons,” Gallaudet University (as it is now known) opened in Hartford, Connecticut. Gallaudet was the first school specifically for disabled people in the United States. Gallaudet opened with just seven students. It now has over 1,000 students. -
Brown v. Board of Education
Segregation of black and white children was the norm in the US in 1954. Four families brought a case to the US Supreme Court against the Board of Education on the basis that segregation was unconstitutional. The families won, and the beginning of the end of segregation began. This case led to families of children with disabilities suing their school districts on the premise of discrimination, which eventually led to more special education reform. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
ESEA was enacted to address the inequality of educational services for underprivileged students. An amendment in 1966 established a grant program to also improve the quality of education for disabled students. Although this was an important step in the history of special education, the amendment was vague and actually did little to improve the educational conditions for students with disabilities. -
PARC v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children (PARC) brought a lawsuit against the state of Pennsylvania for failing to educate students with intellectual disabilities. At the time, Pennsylvania had a law that students could be denied education if they were severely delayed at the time they were supposed to start first grade. PARC won the lawsuit, forcing the state to provide an education for these students, and leading to more educational reform. -
Mills v. Board of Education of D.C.
Mills v. Board of Education of District of Columbia was brought to the Supreme Court because the District of Columbia was excluding an estimated 18,000 students who were deemed, by the school board, to be too expensive to educate. These students mainly had emotional or behavioral disabilities and were expelled from school. The court ruled that the burden of funding a public education for all students falls on the Board of Education, no matter the cost. -
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
This law bans discrimination of students based on disability. The law guarantees accommodations to students with disabilities and the right to be educated with their non-disabled peers when possible. If a separate facility is necessary to provide an education to a student it will be paid for with public funds. Because this is a civil rights law, any school not in compliance will be required to pay back any funds received by the Office of Civil Rights. -
Ed. for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA)
Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA) was the predecessor to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990. In 1970, before EHA was enacted, only an estimated one in five children with disabilities received an education in the United States. The EHA was a step towards meeting the individual needs of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities. -
Sec 504 of VR Act of 1973 Signed Into Law
Although Section 504 was passed by congress in 1973, it was not signed into law. Businesses and organizations lobbied against the act, complaining that it was not fair to force them to provide accessibility. Following weeks of protests around the country, including a 26-day sit-in at the federal Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) building in San Francisco Protest Video, the act was finally signed into law on April 28, 1977. -
American with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990
The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law in 1990. The act broadens the definition of “disability” as provided by the Supreme Court. The act protects and defends people with disabilities in workplaces, schools, and other environments (such as public buildings, stores, parks, etc.) from discrimination. ADA requires facilities to provide accommodations for people with disabilities to ensure accessibility. -
Individuals with Disabilities Ed. Act (IDEA)
In 1990, EHA was changed to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA guarantees a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for all students with disabilities. Students have the right to receive their education in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). IDEA also established the Individual Education Program (IEP) to be created for each student who receives special education services. IDEA