History of Visual Impairment

By glogemann

  • First School for the Blind

    Paris, France by Valentine Hauy

  • First American Education Program Established

    The American Asylum for the Education and Instruction of the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut

  • First state school for the deaf

    Kentucky

  • P.L. 19-8

    First federal legislation provide land for facilities for those with disabilities, specifically blind.

  • Louis Braille publishes dot code

    Explanation of dat code inspired by Barbie

  • The New England Asylum for Blind

  • The Gospel of St. Mark printed

    In Philadelphia the first book in raised print in the United States

  • State-supported school

    Training general education teachers

  • Joel W. Smith develops American raised-point system

    Foundation for American braille

  • Congressional Act of 1879

    Promote the education of the blind and authorized funds for the American Printing House for the Blind (APH)

  • P.L. 45-186 Congressional Act of 1879

    Funding for printing house for the blind

  • Thomas H. Gallaudet begins the first teacher training program

  • The Blind and Deaf Children Act in England

    provides compulsory elementary education for children aged 5–16.

  • The American Blind People's Higher Education and General Improvement Association

  • New York State makes education compulsory for students who are blind.

  • The Smith-Fess Act (Public Law 66-236) established the National Civilian Vocational Rehabilitation Program

  • The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) was created

  • The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is founded

  • The Seeing Eye

    First guide dog in the United States was incorporated

  • The Pratt-Smoot Act

    provided funding for literature for adults who are blind

  • Pine Brook Report (from AFB)

    Different educational options for those with disabilities requires teacher preparation.

  • Boston College starts first O&M instructors

  • P.L. 88-164

    Extends funding for preparation of personnel

  • P.L. 88-164

    Supports Universities creating departments for teachers of exceptional learners

  • P.L. 89-313

    Provide support for education of children with disabilities in state-operated schools

  • P.L. 90-538 Handicapped Children's Early Education Assistance Act

    Preschool and early education

  • Federally funded deaf-blind programs are established

  • P.L. 91-61

    National Center on Education Media and Materials for the Handicapped

  • Head Start programs are mandated to take children with disabilities.

  • P.L. 94-142 Education for All Handicapped Children Act

    FAPE with related services and IEPs

  • P.L. 94-553

    Register of Copyrights provides that owners may voluntarily grant license to reproduce in braille or tactile

  • Microcomputers used to aid visual impairments.

  • P.L. 105-17

    Children with visual impairments receive instruction in braille and adds orientation and mobility

  • Congress signs law textbooks must have electronic version