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The American Asylum for the Education and Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb was founded in 1817 in Hartford, Connecticut. This was the first American school that was exclusively dedicated to the deaf. Before the creation of this school, there were little to no educational offerings for those who suffered from conditions that had left them deaf. -
The Department of Special Education was founded by the National Education Association in 1897. This eventually became the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). This department has been focused on the implementation of programs that better aid those with special needs. -
In the year 1922, Elizabeth Farrell founded the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). This council plays a significant part in protecting the rights of people with disabilities as well as providing laws that do so. This council stands today and stills provides a great deal of aid for those with disabilities. -
The Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) was founded by a group of parents in the year 1963. This organization was created to protect the rights of people with learning disabilities. They are concerned with the full inclusion and integration of students with disabilities as well as an inclusive education for those children. -
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is the largest and oldest federal education law. This law ensured that all children have equal opportunity and access to an adequate education. This law became the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. -
In 1973 The 1973 Rehabilitation Act was put into place and Section 504 of this act banned discrimination of people with disabilities by establishments that received funding from federal funds. Previous to this act, children with disabilities were often discriminated against and segregated from other children. This act opened up a plethora of opportunities for those with disabilities because now they could get a proper education. -
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was enacted in 1975 and was originally named the Education for All Handicapped Children Act or EAHCA. This act placed a federal law that states that every child with a disability is entitled to a free, appropriate public education. Many children with disabilities went without the proper education before this act. IDEA -
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was established in the year 1990. Similar to Section 504, this act prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities. This act, however, had many more protections, such as employment, transportation, and the guarantee of public accommodations. This act can be seen in many places today, the most common of which is the implementation of wheelchair ramps. Department of Labor -
The No Child Left Behind Act was passed by Congress in the year 2001 and was signed into law on Jan. 8, 2002. This act required students with disabilities to reach certain goals that ensured they were making progress. This not only kept track of the students' progress but guaranteed a better education for the students with disabilities. -
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act was an amendment of the IDEA Act from 1975 that was made in the year 2004. This act further ensured that the children with disabilities were getting an education that met their unique needs and prepared them for employment, independent living, and further education. This act also further protected the rights of children with disabilities along with their parents.