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The American School for the Deaf
Thomas Hoskins Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc pioneered the first efforts to educate individuals with disabilities. In 1817, Gallaudet and Clerc established the Connecticut Asylum for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons. This school provided a formal education program designed for the deaf. In 1864, Gallaudet University became the world's first, and continues to be the only, institution of higher education created to meet the needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing students. -
First Public School Class
The first recorded public school class for students who were disabled was established by Elizabeth Ferrell in the New York City public schools in 1899. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (Public Law 89-10) and the State Schools Act (Public Law 89-313) provided states with direct grant assistance to help educate children with disabilities. -
Handicapped Children’s Early Education Act
The Handicapped Children’s Early Education Assistance Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-538) authorized support for exemplary early childhood programs. Later, the Economic Opportunities Amendments of 1972 (Public Law 92-424) increased Head Start enrollment for young children with disabilities. -
States & localities responsible for educating children with disabilities
Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Citizens v. Commonwealth (1971) and Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia (1972) established the responsibility of states and localities to educate children with disabilities. -
Rehabilitation Act
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 guaranteed civil rights to all disabled people and required accommodations for disabled students in schools. -
Education of All Handicapped Children (EHA)
The Education of All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 ensured all children with disabilities, aged 3 to 21, have access to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE), with special education and related services designed to meet their individual needs. In 1997, EHA became the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which emphasized individual education plans (IEPs) and initiated individualized transition plans (ITPs). -
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
The Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 enables students with significant cognitive disabilities to earn a regular high school diploma even if they take alternate state assessments. Additionally, ESSA’s focus on achievement gaps between student subgroups made it possible for schools to be targeted for improvement based solely on the performance of their special education students. This change may be the primary reason that states are adopting more inclusive teaching practices.