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Rev. Thomas Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc founded the first permanent school for students with hearing impairments in Hartford, Connecticut. This was the beginning of formal special education in the U.S. The school provided language and educational opportunities to deaf students. -
Samuel Gridley Howe founded the Perkins School for the Blind in Massachusetts. It pioneered instructional methods for blind students, including famous pupils like Laura Bridgman and later Helen Keller. This school marked a milestone in making education accessible to students with visual impairments. -
The U.S. Supreme Court declared racial segregation in schools unconstitutional. Though not a disability case, the ruling established the right to equal educational opportunities. Parents of children with disabilities later used the same arguments to demand inclusive education.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRYK4RWyUAo -
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed ESEA to provide federal funds for disadvantaged students. In 1966, amendments supported special education programs, expanding access for children with disabilities. This marked the start of ongoing federal involvement in education equity.
https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/laws-preschool-grade-12-education/every-student-succeeds-act-essa -
The Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children sued for the right of children with intellectual disabilities to attend public schools. The settlement required free education and parental involvement in placement decisions. This case laid the groundwork for inclusive education rights. -
The court ruled that children with disabilities could not be denied education due to cost. The decision emphasized due process rights for families and expanded protections to all students with disabilities. Mills reinforced the principle that exclusion violates constitutional rights. -
Congress passed P.L. 94-142, requiring free and appropriate public education (FAPE) for students with disabilities. It mandated Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and education in the least restrictive environment (LRE), supporting mainstreaming into general classrooms. -
The Supreme Court ruled that schools must provide “some educational benefit” to students with disabilities under FAPE. This case clarified expectations for services but did not require schools to maximize potential. It shaped the scope of special education rights. -
P.L. 94-142 was renamed IDEA. It added autism and traumatic brain injury as categories, required transition planning, and promoted person-first language. IDEA reaffirmed inclusion, emphasizing education in the least restrictive environment whenever possible.
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NCLB required schools to report progress for all students, including those with disabilities. ESSA replaced NCLB in 2015, giving states flexibility but maintaining accountability. Both laws reinforced inclusion by ensuring students with disabilities are part of general education standards.