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On April 1817, the American School for the deaf opened in Hartford, CT as the first permanent school for kids with disabilities in the U.S. Founded by Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, Dr. Cogswell, and Laurent Clerc, it gave deaf children access to an education that was formal for the first time. This landmark movement not only gave students the chance to learn literacy skills and language but also built the foundation for the future of Special Education in the U.S. -
A historic Supreme Court Decision that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. The Court stated that "separate but unequal" was by nature unequal, demanding integration. Even though concentrated on race, this case set a powerful example that later influenced efforts to secure equal educational chances and inclusive learning settings for students that had disabilities. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRYK4RWyUAo -
A landmark law that gave federal funding to improve education for children that were disadvantaged including those with disabilities. Its aim was to close achievement gaps by giving resources to schools serving low-income students. It marked the first major step in the federal government's involvement in public education and built essential groundwork for future laws that promoted equality, inclusion, and access. https://education.laws.com/elementary-and-secondary-education-act -
This law was the first federal civil rights protection for students with disabilities. It did not allow discrimination in programs receiving federal funding, including schools and required accommodations to make sure students could participate in general education classes. Section 504 opened the door for inclusive education and equal access in schools. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/oasam/centers-offices/civil-rights-center/statutes/section-504-rehabilitation-act-of-1973 -
It guaranteed that students with disabilities have the right to a free and proper public education (FAPE). It required schools to educate students in the least restrictive environment together with their disabled classmates when possible. This law marked a major step towards inclusion, making sure that students with disabilities can access general education and be given the required support services. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4Xzvafi-Pg -
It required states to extend free and proper education to students with disabilities (ages 3 to 6). It established early intervention programs for toddlers and infants with disabilities (ages birth to 2 years). The amendments strengthened the least restrictive environment, encouraged inclusion in general education environments, and strengthened the rights of parents to make sure students were given the necessary services and support. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2801456/ -
Prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities in the private sector. It protected equal chance to employment and public services, accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications. Defined disability to include people with AIDS. Widely known as one of the most important milestones in the history of special education, since it expanded civil rights protections and demanded colleges, schools, and public spaces to be accessible. -
This was the reauthorization of the education for all handicapped children act. It established an individual's first language for referring to people with disabilities. It added two new categories of disability including traumatic brain injury and autism and strengthened a student's rights to a free and appropriate public education. Furthermore, it strengthened the least restrictive environment and access to general education classrooms, promoting mainstreaming and inclusion. -
These amendments strengthened inclusion by requiring that students with disabilities have access to the general education curriculum and participate in state and district assessments. It highlighted the least restrictive environment, promoted partnership between general and special education teachers and strengthened that students with disabilities must learn beside their classmates whenever proper. Overall, it limited conditions under which attorneys can collect fees under IDEA. -
This act gained accountability in the field of education by demanding every student, including those with disabilities to reach academic standards through statewide testing. It highlighted access to the general education curriculum and inclusion making sure that every school was responsible for the progress of students with disabilities. This reinforced efforts towards equality and learning in less restrictive environments.