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School for the Deaf
The American School for the Deaf was the first school in the country to focus exclusively on educating those who were deaf. It was founded by Dr. Mason Fitch Cogswell, who's daughter was deaf, alongside Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet. The school continues to function as of today featuring general subjects as well as sports programs. -
Council for Exceptional Children
The CEC is an organization focused on providing various services for students with disabilities and educators. It was founded by Elizabeth E. Farrell alongside educators and faculty members at Columbia University. It's main website provides various standards and guidelines intended for educators in special education. A video from their official YouTube Channel -
The Arc
The Arc is a community based organization focusing on supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities. It was founded some time during the 1950's by parent groups in Minneapolis, MN. The group originally referred to itself as the National Association for Retarded Children (NARC) before changing it's name in 1981 due to the word "retarded" having derogatory implications currently. -
Brown v. Board of Education
B v. BoE was a Supreme Court case that resulted in the decision to consider racial segregation in schools unconstitutional. The case came about when Oliver Brown's daughter was refused enrollment at an elementary school near her home and instead asked to go to a segregated school that was further away just because she was black. As a result, the court made a unanimous decision in favor of the Brown family.
Archive of Information from the Case -
Rehabilitation Act
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 allowed it so that people could not be discriminated towards based on their disability. Section 504 in particular specifies that there should be no discrimination towards their disability while determining their qualifications for a specific job. Relating this to education, this would allow for disabled students to have more career choices. -
Education for All Handicapped Act
The EfAH Act, signed in to law by President Gerald Ford, requires that all public schools create experiences for disabled children equal to that of their non-disabled piers. This includes giving them one free meal a day as well as creating plans alongside their parents in order to ensure that their education is effective. Parents were also allowed to dispute decisions made for their child that they may disagree with. -
National Center for Learning Disabilities
Originally founded as the Foundation for Children With Learning Disabilities by Carrie and Pete Rozelle before changing it's name in 1989. The NCLD's goal was to raise awareness and provide support for people with disabilities. The couple had two sons with learning disabilities, inspiring them to create the foundation as information about disabilities was scarce at the time. -
First Assistive Technology Act
The first of many AT Acts was referred to as the Technology-Related Assistance Act and was passed some time in 1988. The purpose of these acts are to ensure that people with disabilities, including students from K-12, are able to use technology in a way that accounts for disabilities. There have been numerous re-authorizations of the act due to it expiring every couple of years, hence why there are so many. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
Signed in to law by President George H.W. Bush, the Americans with Disabilities Act gave people with disabilities protections similar to those found in the Civil Right Act, making discrimination towards them illegal. It also requires that reasonable accommodations be provided to people with disabilities. This includes providing them accommodations in both transportation and education. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
Signed in to law by George H.W. Bush, IDEA is a re-authorization of the previous EfAH Act from 1975. Much like the former, it calls for equal opportunities in the education of students with disabilities. Six major elements that would become standards in Special Education were introduced through this act including IEP, FAPE, LRE, Appropriate Evaluation, Parent/Teacher Participation, and Procedural Safegaurds.