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American School for the Deaf
Founded in Hartford, Connecticut, the American School for the Deaf was the first special education institution established in the United States, with a focus on the hearing impaired. It was also the first school of primary and secondary education to receive aid from the federal government. To date, ASD has graduated over 6 thousand students. -
Gallaudet University
Located in Washington DC, Gallaudet University is known as one of the first education grammar schools for disabled children in the world, with concentrations in educating students that were deaf, blind and mute. It originally went by the name of the Columbia Institution for the Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb (Mute) and the Blind. Seven years after its conception, the school became authorized to grant college degrees. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Known as one of the most impacting cases ever held in the US Supreme Court, Plessy v. Furgson set in stone the "separate but equal" doctrine which upheld racial segregation laws. This case opened the door for further segregation laws in the South and extended into laws in the North, causing a most impacting divide in the country. This remained the standard until its collapse in 1954 with Brown v. Board of Education. -
Brown v. Board of Education
This US Supreme Court ruling established that separate public school for blacks and whites was unconstitutional, overturning the foundation of Plessy v. Ferguson. One of the key arguments was that it went against the 14th Amendment, which addresses citizen's rights and equal protection of the law. This case paved the way for ideas such as Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) for disabled children in that it states that "all men are created equal."
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Autism Society of America
Originally known as the National Society for Autistic Children, the ASA currently has over 50,000 members and 200 chapters in the United States and is one of the longest lasting and largest grassroots organizations with a focus on autism. It's primary mission is to spread autism awareness and to provide information and services to parents and families in the autism community. -
Rehabilitation Act, Section 504
The Rehabilitation Act provides an equal opportunity for those with disabilities against any public school, employer or organization who wish to deny them services and/or benefits due to their disability. This act demands for equality and provides students with disabilities reasonable accommodations such as special study areas and assistance as needed. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act
Signed into law by President Gerald, the EAHCA made it a requirement that all public schools receiving federal funding must provide all disabled children with a free education and one free meal a day. It was made a requirement that the learning environment should resemble that of a non-disabled child, also known as a "least restrictive environment", and that teachers work with parents to develop an educational plan tailored specifically for the child. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
Signed into law by President George H. W. Bush, this law protects those with disabilities against discrimination and makes it a requirement that all public facilities be accommodating for those with disabilities. ADA disabilities include physical as well as mental disabilities and does not require that these conditions be severe in order to be acknowledged. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) focuses on the implementation of Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) and Individualized Education Program (IEP), among other things. Prior to this act, only 1 out of 5 children with disabilities was given a pubic school education. In 1975, over one million children had no access to a public school education. Today, over 6 million have been accommodated.
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No Child Left Behind Act
Signed into law by President George W. Bush, reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, this act supports the standards-based education reform which pushes public schools to set high standards and goals regardless of the class of the community in order to have a more positive outcome for the students. As a result, annual standardized testing is required by the schools in order to continue to receive federal funding. -
Winkelman v. Parma City School District
The Winkelman v. Parma School District case was ultimately decided upon by the U.S. Supreme Court, finding that parents may petition on behalf of rights binded within the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; seeing as they benefit from the services provided to their child(ren). When the Winkelman parents were shut down initially by the courts, they persisted in representing the best interests of their child, creating a new regulation catering to the parents of students with disabilities.
