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The First American School for the Deaf was founded by Thomas Gallaudet in Hartford, Connecticut. It marked the first U.S. institution devoted to students with disabilities and provided specialized instruction for deaf children. The establishment showed that students with disabilities could thrive with proper education and prepare for the future. -
The Congress authorized the Columbia Institution, which is now Gallaudet University, making it the world's first university for deaf students. The university became the center for deaf culture, teacher preparation, and advocacy. Gallaudet demonstrated the power of higher education for students with disabilities and inspired wider acceptance of their abilities. -
The Supreme Court ruling declared racial segregation unconstitutional. Although it focused on race, it also influenced later cases extending equal protection to children with disabilities. Brown established that exclusion from education violates civil rights, laying the legal foundation for inclusive schooling. -
The first U.S. disability civil rights law, Section 504, prohibited discrimination in programs receiving federal funds. For schools, this meant that students with disabilities must be given equal access to learning opportunities. This law reshaped classrooms by requiring accommodations such as ramps, accessible materials, and support services. -
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act guaranteed a "free and appropriate public education" (FAPE) for students with disabilities. It created IEPs, due process rights, and mandated the least restrictive environment (LRE), requiring schools to include students in general classrooms when appropriate. EAHCA is considered the foundation of special education in America. -
The Early Childhood Amendments extended services to preschool children ages 3-5 and created early intervention for infants and toddlers. For the first time, federal law recognized the importance of supporting families and providing developmental services early in life. This shifted special education towards prevention and early support. -
IDEA renamed and strengthened EAHCA, adding autism and traumatic brain injury as new disability categories. It also required transition planning to prepare students for adulthood and reinforced inclusion through LRE. IDEA remains the primary U.S. law guiding special education today. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XMndYNEGFA] -
The 1997 amendments required students with disabilities to access the general education curriculum and participate in statewide assessments. This shift in expectations moved from "separate but equal" to truly inclusive learning. It strengthened accountability and helped normalize inclusion in everyday classrooms. -
The No Child Left Behind Act required schools to report student achievement by subgroup, including students with disabilities. This law highlighted achievement gaps and increased accountability for teaching all learners. Although it was controversial, it pushed schools to provide accommodations and raised expectations for students with disabilities. -
ESSA replaced NCLB, keeping accountability but granting states more flexibility. It emphasized
equity, high standards, and access to inclusive education for students with disabilities. ESSA continues the movement toward integrating students with disabilities into general education while maintaining protections under IDEA.
[https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/laws-preschool-grade-12-education/every-student-succeeds-act-essa]