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The SWD are not allowed to go to school
To date back to the beginning, in the 1800's society viewed people with disabilities as a burden, disgusted at times, an obstacle in the way of other children learning and inferior. They had a lack of laws that would protect them. Many children that had disabilities in these times were also seen as a burden or a punishment to parents, this caused many parents to also send them away to special institutes. These institutions were said to look and be similar to jails.
[https://youtu.be/C42JKz4DwKQ] -
Rhode Island compulsory attendance
Rhode island was the first place to use the compulsory attendance. Although they were the first place to do this for students,it did not include African Americans or students with disabilities. However, this new change started the small movement towards moving towards the right path for students with disabilities. -
Isolated schools created for SWD
In the 1850s isolated schools for disabled students were created. These schools were often referred to as state schools or training schools. These were created to provide students with the opportunity to learn due to previously being excluded from public schools. One of the first one's was called "The Massachusetts School for Idiotic and Feeble-Minded Youth". -
The Louisiana Separate Car Act
Although this was not about students with disabilities, it affected this area. The Louisiana separate car act ended up playing a huge role in history when it came to the racial segregation due to its purpose of "equal but separate "accommodations for whites and blacks. This pattern then helped people with disabilities during this same time. -
Plessy v. Feguson US Supreme Court
There then came the case of 1896 Plessy v. Feguson US Supreme Court. This spoke on the issue of separate but equal facilities. Although it was not specific to special education, it did have an impact for the next 60 years that laid the questions, concerns and corrections to start pondering on these issues.
[https://www.nhpr.org/all-things-considered/2024-02-06/refresher-course-how-plessy-v-ferguson-continues-to-have-an-impact-on-u-s-courts] -
SWD Start Seeing Hope For School
In 1920s a huge change came about, some schools started to create classes for children with disabilities. Sadly, they still had to remain in these separate classes for years to come. It was not widespread neither and it was not legal in all states. The first school to do this was said to be in New York City. -
Brown v. Topeka Board of Education
Attorney Thurgood Marshall challenged the Plessy ruling in Brown v. Topeka Board of Education. The case was about a third grader that was an African American student named Linda Brown and lived in Topeka Kansas. The case went to the supreme court. It is said that this is what fundamentally changed the public school education civil rights. Although it was not about a girl that was disabled, it laid the foundation for a later cases one which includes the case PARC v. Pennsylvania. -
Who was Chief Justice Warren?
Chief Justice Warren Was the 14th chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1954, he stated that any child who is denied school will not have the equal right to advance in life. This then opened many cases for students with disabilities. He also stated on May 17th 1954 that 'In the field of Public education, the doctrine of separate but equal has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal". -
Beatie v. Board of Education Topeka
The case 1919 Beatie v. Board of Education was based on a student that was expelled due to his disability and how it made teachers and other students feel. Sadly due to this reason where he did not even have a mental disability but instead it was do to it being physical. The decision/ruling date was passed on May 17, 1954.[https://www.quimbee.com/cases/beattie-v-board-of-education-of-antigo#:~:text=Merritt%20had%20difficulty%20walking%20and,The%20board%20appealed.] -
Hello Legislation funding PL 94-142
In 1970s special education was starting the the Legislation funding PL 94-142 which was then passed as the foundation. After Chief Justice Warren and Brown v. Topeka Board of Education, many more case opened the door for this to happen which included: PARC v. Pennsylvania (1972)
Mills v. Board of Education (1972) extended protection -
Education for All handicapped Children Act
President Jerald Ford signed into law the Education for All handicapped Children Act (Public Law 94-142) Known today as IDEA Individuals with Disabilities Education Act which includes the following:
1- Zero reject
2 -IEP
3 -Appropriate Evaluation
4- procedural safeguards
5 -parent and child participation
6- FAPE Free appropriate public education -
The IDEA was Officially Passed
In 1990s the law of IDEA was passed where disabled people/students had the rights to general education rights. This was the moment where inclusion started for all students. This was a vital role to students future education. Mitchel’s explained in 1998 that public education is a birth right he adds that education is the business to the states, as of today, we have all inclusion and disabled students have the rights they deserve. I hope we will continue this and help them move ever further!