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American School of the Deaf
The American school of the deaf, the first permanent school of the deaf in the Uniter States. Founded in 1817, by Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, Dr. Mason Cogswell and Laurent Clerc, in West Hartford, Connecticut. This school became nationally renown for providing educational programs and services for students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. This was not the first school for the deaf in America but sadly the first school, Virginia School for the Deaf closed a few years after founded. -
Perkins Institution for the Blind
Perkins School for the blind open in 1829, in Watertown, Massachusetts. This school was the first school for the blind in the United States and was originally named New England Asylum for the Blind, where students were forced to live at the school similar to a boarding school. Today Perkins has expanded their programs to support families and children who re blind throughout the United States. Attached is a link to the Perkins School for the Blind website, https://www.perkins.org/ -
Law Mandating Compulsory Education
The compulsory education law, was put into place to ensure that children are attending school for a certain period of time. Children must start school by the age of 6 and must stay enrolled at least till the age of 16. This law was put into place to ensure children are getting an education, but also to reduce child labor practices in the 19th and early 20th centuries. There has been exceptions made for the Amish that states children past 8th grade are exempt. -
Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
CEC is a program that focuses on improving the quality of education whether it is special or general education. The council works together with the state, local and federal government to find ways to better education and care for children with exceptionalities. CEC has resources for members and other who work with disabled children, such as conventions, conferences and websites. Through these resources educational growth has grown for children with disabilities. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
On April 9th 1965 the ESEA was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson's, in the hopes that no matter income there will be equal access to quality education. Through this act funds will be distributed to schools and school districts with higher percentages of students that come from lower income families. This title was put into place in the hopes that the gap between low-income students and middle-class students in reading, writing and math becomes smaller. -
Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
Least Restrictive Environment act is part of the IDEA that states that students with special education needs or development disabilities should be spending as much time as possible in the classroom with their peers who do not receive special education. This act ensures that all children are learning with their peers if appropriate for learning. This meaning if the classroom is suitable and right for the child's growth and development. -
Handicapped Children's Protection Act (HCPA)
This act was signed by Ronald Regan, and was put into place so all parents with disabled children had more say in the development of their child's Individual Education Plan (IEP). Considered a big win for the civil rights and disability advocates, the HCPA ensues that parents of disabled children are kept informed on decisions being made for their child's education. Allowing parents and educators to work together ensuring that the disabled child is getting the best support. -
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The ADA law was put into place to limit discrimination against disabled individuals in all areas of life, including work, school, transportation and all public and private areas that are open to the general public. This laws sole purpose is to ensure that all disabled people have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. Attached is a link that explains more about the rights of those who are disabled, https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/disability/ada -
IDEA- Individuals with Disabilities Act
IDEA is a four-part piece of the American legislation, that ensures that all students with disabilities have the right to free public education that fits the their needs. The over all goal of IDEA is to provide students with disabilities the same opportunities in education as their peers who are non-disabled. IDEA was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on October 30, 1990. Attached is a video that explains more about the IDEA, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RSYEVSJhIg -
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
The No Child Left behind act was created to hold schools accountable for the way children learn and achieve goals. The goal of NCLB was to provide equal opportunities for disadvantaged students including students in poverty, minorities, students receiving special education services and those who speak and understand little or no english. This law was set into place to help children achieve their goals and if no progress was made the school was penalized because no improvement was shown.
