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Charles Micel L'Epeé of France established the first public school for people who had disabilities in the year 1760. This school focused on language and speech for individuals that were deaf and blind. The establishment was known as “Institution Nationale des Jeunes Aveugles." -
Rev. Thomas Gallaudet and Samuel Howe established the first school for the deaf in 1817. The school was called American Asylum for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb, located in Hartford Connecticut. The school is now known as the American School for the Deaf. -
Rhode Island was the first state to pass a law mandating compulsory education for children in 1840, however, all states did not have compulsory education until 1918. Children with disabilities were still often shut out from public schools and stayed at home or institutionalized. In response, the officials added classrooms specific for children with special needs in the public school system.
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The Council for Exceptional Children was founded in the year 1922. This council is now the prominent organization of special educators. This group is the largest international organization that provides information, resources, and professional development for educators that work with children with disabilities. -
In 1950, the National Association for Retarded Citizens, now known as ARC USA) is a parent advocacy organization. The parents of children with disabilities wanted to share that their children had abilities that should be respected. They also wanted to encourage their children's independence. -
Another parent advocacy organization was founded in 1963. This organization was known as the Association for Children with Learning Disabilities. Their goal is to provide support to individuals with learning disabilities, family of those individuals, and educational professionals. -
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act was passed in 1965. It mandated and provided schools funding for the enhance the learning environment and have a proper learning environment for students with disabilities. This act was passed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on April 11, 1965. -
In 1975 the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA) was passed by legislation. This act guaranteed that students with disabilities had equal access to an education. This act included all states accepting federal funds. -
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Board-of-Education-of-the-Hendrick-Hudson-Central-School-District-v-Rowley
Rowley was a deaf student that required an interpreter in the individualized education program. However, during Kindergarten the interpreter decided she did not need his services, that she could understand what was being said with a hearing aid and reading lips. The parent's disagreed and argued she could only understand 60% of language without an interpreter using reading lips and aid. -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66g6TbJbs2g The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was a public law endorsed in 1990. The law mandated that every student that was to receive special education had an individualized plan for their education. This included making sure that each student had an individualized goal to learn, objectives, length of school terms, educational placement, and criteria for evaluation. Each student then has a learning plan to their specific needs.