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American Asylum for the Education and Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb
In Hartford, Connecticut, the American Asylum for the Education and Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb was opened on the 15th of April in the early 1800s. It was the first permanent school for deaf children and others that struggled with speech. It is still standing strong with its name being updated as the American School for the Deaf. Link: https://www.gallaudet.edu/history-through-deaf-eyes/online-exhibition/formation-of-a-community/from-asylum-to-school -
Braille Code
Louis Braille was blinded at the age of 3 in 1812. When he was 15, in 1824, he created a system for those that are also visually impaired. The system was adopted in the United States in 1932. -
Columbia Institution for the Deaf and Dumb and Blind
This institution was founded by Amos Kendall. Kendall eventually hired Edward Miner Gallaudet as the first superintendent of the school. Together they successfully got Congress to allow the school to award college degrees. This is the first college for students with disabilities. It is now named Gallaudet University. It is located in Washington D.C., USA. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
Not only should this case be known as one of the cases that helped segregation dissolve, but it also included students with disabilities! It began when a little girl, Linda Brown, was walking miles to go to school although there was a white school just a few blocks away from her house. Her father tried to enroll her into the white school however they rejected her due to her race. In this case, the court ruled that students shouldn't be segregated based on their races nor their disabilities. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
On April 11, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Elementary and Secondary Education act into law. It was not a law that requires all schools to educate students with disabilities. However it provided grants to the schools/institutions that did provide an educational program for students with disabilities. -
Section 504
Section 504 from the Rehabilitation Act protects those with disabilities and special needs from discrimination. President Richard Nixon signed this act. It allows those with special needs/disabilities to have rights to be included or receive benefits from existing programs. This act also includes FAPE and LRE. -
FERPA
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act is a federal law that protects all students academic records. This act was signed by President Ford. IDEA also protects the privacy of the records of students with disabilities and special needs. -
IDEA
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was first known as The Education of Handicapped Children Act. This act was passed in 1975. It's name was updated in 1990. It ensures a free, public and appropriate education to all students with disabilities. Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XMndYNEGFA -
Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
Through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, students with disabilities are ensures free, appropriate, public education in a least restrictive environment. This means that students with disabilities are to be included with other students that do not have disabilities as much as possible. -
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
This act was signed by President George W. Bush in 1990. This act is another plus to the growing equality for those with special needs and disabilities. They are not to be discriminated when it comes to the work place, school, or transportation services. They are to be treated equally among everyone else.
