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In 1817, the first school for special education was created in the US. This was the Connecticut Asylum for the Education and Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb Persons. This school would set a precedent for future schools dedicated exclusively to those with disabilities. -
In 1870, the American Association of Instructors of the Blind was created. It was the first organization of its kind for professionals specializing in blindness. More specialized organizations would later open up, including the American Association on Mental Deficiency. -
Brown v. Board of Education was a major event in the history of special and inclusive education in the US because it declared that segregation was unconstitutional. This decision would pave the way for the desegregation of public schools and create a shift towards more inclusive education for all students, including those with disabilities. Additional legislation would later be passed to increase inclusivity in public schools.
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In 1958, the Department of Public Welfare v Haas passed their verdict. The court ruled that the state of Illinois was not required to provide free public education to students with disabilities. This would have a negative influence on inclusive education in the US. -
Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia in 1972 played a crucial role in the development of special and inclusive education in the US. It established the right of children with disabilities to a free and appropriate public education and prohibited the exclusion of students with disabilities from public schools. It paved the way for the development of future special education laws. -
In 1975, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act was passed. This act required states to provide a free public education to students ages 5 through 18 with disabilities. It also required individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and was the first to set a definition for “Least Restrictive Environment.” https://sites.ed.gov/idea/IDEA-History -
Honig v. Doe centered around the exclusion of a student with a disability from school as punishment. The Supreme Court ruled that schools cannot exclude students with disabilities from receiving educational services as a form of punishment, thus protecting the educational rights of students with disabilities. Honig v. Doe played a crucial role in advancing inclusive education and ensured that students with disabilities receive the educational support they need to succeed. -
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was created in 1990. Some important provisions extended due process and confidentiality, and added autism as well as traumatic brain injury to the category of disability. In addition to this, it was the first act to now use “people-first” language when referring to people with disabilities. -
In 1997, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was passed. This allowed teachers working in special needs classrooms to assist in general education classrooms, thus allowing for more teacher interaction to better help students. It also required that students with disabilities who had been expelled continue to receive educational services. -
In 2004, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) was passed. This would implement a response-to-intervention (RTI) model, rather than requiring students to have a “severe gap in achievement and intellectual ability.” It also raised the standards for obtaining a special education license.