-
-
This is the American School for the Deaf; founded in Hartford by Gallaudet and Clerc, it marked the birth of special education schools in the United States. With the schools help, deaf children who were not able to communicate effectively with society due to lack of knowledge demonstrated that they too could learn and thrive just like those without disabilities. The school allowed for the shift between discriminating those with disabilities, to empowering them. -
Plessy v Ferguson is a court case from 1896 that resulted in the legalization of segregation under the doctrine ‘separate but equal.’ This was intended to be about race, but it did justify for segregation and an unequal school system; in turn, affecting those with disabilities, too. The case set up the grounds for future legal battles that ended segregation and allowed those with disabilities to have access to general education. This reminds us to advocate for the least restrictive enviornments. -
In this court case, the court unanimously ruled segregation in schools, including against the disabled, as unconstitutional. It was successful with the help of parents and advocates of those affected. After the case, advocates were demanding inclusion thanks to Brown recognizing education as a fundamental right. Brown v. Board of Education is seen as a symbol of the large shift towards equality that followed the events of the case, such as the law ‘Education for All Handicapped Children Act.’ -
The ESEA brought the federal government into funding for schools with low-income families. This helped lay the foundation for the equity-based policies that extended to those with disabilities. Through introducing ‘federal accountability,’ ESEA assisted in paving the way for disability-specific legislation. The goal, to demand equal opportunities and access. -
EAHCA granted and guaranteed all children (ages 5-21) with disabilities ‘free appropriate public education’ (FAPE). Requiring that children be taught in the least restrictive environment (LRE), Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and procedural safeguards all came to be through the EAHCA. This law allowed for parents to be recognized as part of decision-making in the schools. EAHCA has been renamed to IDEA, which is what we know it as now. IDEA -
This was a federal civil rights law that protected those with disabilities. Discrimination in areas that were receiving federal funding - such as public schools - became prohibited. Schools had to adapt to and implement the new law through modified assignments, extending testing time, and assistive technology. Section 504 is extremely relevant today, as it acted as a bridge between civil rights and education. -
It is the EAHCA, but revamped. It further expands the services and protection available for the disabled, focusing on life after high school. Trauma to the brain and autism categories were added to IDEA, reflecting the growing knowledge of student needs. The act strengthened parents’ involvement in the children’s schooling. IDEA is one of the most influential legislations to come to be, reshaping modern inclusion practices. -
The ADA extended the already-there protections for all areas of life of those with disabilities. It required all schooling (including universities) to make their services, programs, and buildings accessible for the disabled. This means it isn’t just for inside the classroom, but sports, too! The ADA also called for change outside of schools, such as workplaces, showing the true commitment of inclusion. -
Emphasized standardized tests and accountability because it reauthorized the ESEA. States became required to test their adequate yearly progress (AYP) through annual testing, and then report it. The law wanted to highlight achievement gaps. Students with disabilities took the test with accommodations to be the most fair. While some don’t like the NCLB because of how it focuses on testing, it ensures the disabled are not excluded from accountability systems. Later, it is replaced by ESSA. -
It replaced the NCLB in hopes of preserving accountability, but while correcting its shortcomings. ESSA still required schools to track their disabled students’ progress, and gave the states more decision-making power. It required students with disabilities to take assessments with accommodations, emphasizing inclusion and equity. The ESSA aims for all to receive quality education, regardless of ability. It continues the push for inclusion as it is the most recent stage of federal education law.