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Thomas Gallaudet opened up the American School for the Deaf after having an interaction with a deaf woman, went to the School for the Deaf in Paris to learn about deaf education. With some help, he was able to open up the American School for the Deaf which is still open to this day and serves as an example for educators nationwide. This school also serves as a training facility for teachers eager to learn. Learn for more -
This landmark court case deemed the segregation of students in schools “unconstitutional” allowing every student to have access to the same resources. This was the first time that the court, legally, had fought for the inequality and injustice students were facing in the school system. -
The Mental Health Code was requiring Haas to pay for the maintenance of an arrested child according to federal and state constitutions. This brought up the debate if the care and education of a disabled child in jail and if it’s constitutionally correct to have the parent pay for this maintenance or to have it covered by the state legislation. The court ruled that the fees collected were for the maintenance and training that was necessary to continue this education. -
This case was brought to the court when handicapped children were being denied by public schools in Washington DC. This case, along with another case that occurred the year before (The Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children aka PARC), provided the school systems with proper alternatives for children with disabilities as well as monitoring the child’s progress and use of these alternatives. -
Also known as the EAHCA, this act is now known as the “Mainstreaming Law” in which it states that every state must provide all students with disabilities with free and appropriate public education. Not only was this point so important but this act also ensured IEPs (Individualized Education Plans) for disabled students and publicly defined the “least restrictive environment”. -
the IDEA eventually replaces the previous EAHCA and adds an emphasis on a “people first” attitude when speaking about students or people with disabilities. This act also adds more protection and a deeper acknowledge of transitions from being children with disabilities into adulthood while also adding autism and traumatic brain injury to the list of disabilities. Speaking of languages, this act allowed bilingual education for students’ disabilities to be more known in school systems nationwide. -
NCLB laid the groundwork for supporting and encouraging the growth of primary and secondary schools while also ensuring that no student was suffering due to these changes and ends up failing out. It covered tons of territory including, improving teaching and teacher qualities, keeping schools’ drug free, and keeping the school environment safe and welcoming. By having the NCLB there was an increase in accountability in schools as well as better flexibility in schools nationwide. -
With IEPs (Individualized Education Programs) emerging all over the nation, school systems were having a tough time keeping control of all the students needs and individual disabilities. Every member in these teams keeps track and monitors every students progress, needs, and accommodations throughout the school years. These teams provide students with social/emotional support, safe environments, etc. For more -
The ESSA, signed by former President Barrack Obama, replaces the NCLB with a bigger emphasis on having local governments monitor students’ progress rather than the federal government this creates a better way on improving schools. The ESSA also ensures that the school systems understand that those students who have poor academic scores shouldn’t be seen as a burden but still as students that schools need to help improve. Progress is the key word in this new version of the NCLB act. -
Smithfield is a relatively new school that has opened up and has quickly become a modern staple for implementing inclusive design and safe environments for students with disabilities. By having areas all around the schools featuring sensory friendly areas and flexible support from the school staff helps these students achieve the best versions of themselves. Smithfield is focused on mental, learning, and physical disabilities which is essential for students in educational environments.