History of Special Education

By vasthompson

  • Asylum

    In the first part of the 1700s, people with disabilities were given protection from the world at large.

  • procedures for teaching children with sensory impairment

    Procedures for teaching blind and deaf children are developed after the American and French Revolutions in the late 1700s.

  • Beginning of Special Education

    Jean-Marc Itard (1774-1838) trail-blazed for special education with patience and systematic educating. He was a doctor specializing in ear diseases, deafness, and educating the deaf.

  • American School for the Deaf (known as today)

    Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet (1787-1851) learned about educating deaf and, then, opens school for the deaf in Hartford, Connecticut.

  • Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, Massachusetts

    Samuel Gridley Howe opens a school to teach blind students reading, writing, math, and enrichment.

  • Experimental school for intellectually disabled

    Samuel Gridley Howe was involved in the opening of the school.

  • Intellectual disabilities / behavioral disorders addressed

    Early 1900s, effort made to educate children with intellectual disabilities, and emotional/behavioral disorders.

  • Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) founded

    Elizabeth Farrell had already helped to develop special education as a profession when she and others formed the CEC.

  • Parent organizations

    Effective national parent groups form.

  • deinstitutionalization movement

    Trend for people with disabilities to live closer to home and in more home-like situations instead of in institutions has effect.

  • Special Olympics started

    Eunice Kennedy Shriver establishes Special Olympics.

  • Education for All Handicapped Children Act

    In 1990, this becomes IDEA.

  • Hudson vs. Rawley

    Case decided a sign language interpreter was not necessary to achieve appropriate education for Amy Rowley.

  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

    ADA ensures rights of individuals with disabilities.

  • inclusion movement

    "Exceptional children should be placed where such instruction (intensive instruction to meet needs of exceptional learners) is most likely to be provided, even if that place is somewhere other than the general education classroom." (Exceptional Learners, p.12)

  • No Child Left Behind Act

    NCLB was meant to improve education for all children including those with disabilities.

  • Individuals with Disabilities Educaiton Improvement Act

    This is the re-authorization of IDEA.