History of Special Education Timeline

  • Asylum of the Deaf and Dumb

    Asylum of the Deaf and Dumb
    The American Asylum of the Deaf and Dumb was the first school for special education that opened up in 1817 in Hartford, Connecticut. The word "dumb" referred to students who could not speak. They were mainly taught math, writing, reading, geography, history, and the bible.
  • The Perkins Institute

    The Perkins Institute
    The Perkins Institute was located in Watertown, Massachusetts. It is the oldest school for the blind in the USA. This school was opened with the intention to open doors to education and independence for the blind.
  • The Arc

    The Arc
    This organization was opened to be an advocate for the rights of people with mental retardation. It was founded by parents of people with developmental disabilities. It was one of the first organizations to put funds into researching developmental disabilities.
  • Brown vs. Board of Education

    Brown vs. Board of Education
    In Brown vs. Board of Education, the U.S. Constitution ruled that separate schools for blacks and whites were unconstitutional. This started on Dec 9, 1952, and ended on May 5, 1954. This overruled the "separate but equal" mentality. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1siiQelPHbQ]
  • Rehabilitation Act of 1973

    Rehabilitation Act of 1973
    This act was passed on Sep 9, 1973. It prohibited discrimination against the basis of disability by institutions that receive federal assistance. The law applies to public elementary and secondary schools. This makes sure that disabled students have the same educational opportunities. [https://www.parentcenterhub.org/section504/]
  • Education for all Handicapped Children

    Education for all Handicapped Children
    This act is a federal law and also known as Public Law 94–142. It requires that public schools provide the right education services to children with disabilities from ages 3-21 years old. If these schools accepted federal funds they also had to provide a free meal to these children.
  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

    Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
    Individuals with Disabilities Education Act makes sure that children with disabilities are provided with a free public education that is appropriate for them. It provides services to about 7.5 million infants, toddlers, and children. This act provides grants to states to help maintain their programs.
  • Americans with Disabilities Act

    Americans with Disabilities Act
    Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination based on a disability. It was signed by George W. Bush. This act requires public entities to make the programs that they offer, accessible to people with disabilities. This law makes sure that people with disabilities have all the same rights as everyone else.
  • No Child Left Behind Act

    No Child Left Behind Act
    The No Child Left Behind Act holds schools accountable for their student's outcomes. It is an updated version of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. This requires states to test students from third to eighth grade and even high school students and students with special needs in reading and math.
  • Every Student Succeeds Act

    Every Student Succeeds Act
    The Every Student Succeeds Act was passed by President Obama. This act replaced the No Child Left Behind Act. It upholds critical protection for high-need students. It also makes sure that the right information is provided to educators, families, and students with statewide assessments.