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American Asylum for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb
Hartford, Connecticut opened the first special education school in the United States. It was called the American Asylum for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb. It is now known as the American School for the Deaf. At that time, "dumb" meant only "unable to speak". (Interesting fact- this is where we get the reference to someone being "dumbstruck") -
The International Council for the Education of Exceptional Children
The International Council for the Education of Exceptional Children, later renamed The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), was organized by a group of administrators and supervisors attending Columbia University. The council began with 12 members. Elizabeth E. Farrell was the Founder and first President, 1922-26. The council is dedicated to advancing the success of children with disabilities through advocacy, standards, and professional development. -
Special Olympics founded
The first Special Olympics took place in Chicago. Founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who was a pioneer in the global struggle for rights and acceptance for people with intellectual disabilities.
The first Special Olympics -
Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children (PARC) v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
This case was a major breakthrough for special education. It stated that schools should provide free, public programs to educate and train that are “appropriate to the child's capacity.” (FAPE) It also stated that ”a regular public school class” was more beneficial to a child than a “special public school class” (LRE)
Overview of Case -
Mills v. Board of Education, District of Columbia
This case stated that children who had disabilities were not to be denied admission, suspended, expelled, reassigned or transferred from regular public school classes without due process of law. -
Section 504
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Section 504 ensures that the child with a disability has equal access to an education. The child may receive accommodations and modifications. -
Education of the Handicapped Act
Signed into law by President Gerald Ford, public law 94-142, most commonly known as the Education of the Handicapped Act, ensures that special education services are available to children who need them and guarantees that decisions about services to students with disabilities are fair and appropriate. (FAPE) -
Americans with Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else in every setting; not just schools. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
In 1990, the United States Congress reauthorized the Education of All Handicapped Children Act and changed the title to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Congress mandated that a student’s IEP must include, an individual transition plan to help transition them to post-secondary life. It also placed more focus on the individual, as opposed to a condition that the individual may have.
25 years of Progress -
No Child Left Behind
President George W. Bush signed into law the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). NCLB is the name for the update to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. The law put an emphasis on annual testing, annual academic progress, report cards, and teacher qualifications, as well as significant changes in funding.
NCLB overview
