Special Education Timeline

By bcassells

  • American School for the Deaf

    First school for children with disabilities in the Western Hemisphere.

  • Compulsory Education

    Rhode Island passes a law mandating compulsory education.

  • Beattie v. Board of Education

    Students expelled for facial abnormalities and drooling.

  • Council for Exceptional Children

    First advocacy group for children with disabilities.

  • Brown v. Board of Education

    Establishes that "separate but equal" is not actually equal, inspiring many groups to start to organize for more rights for students with disabilities.

  • Elementary and Secondary Education Act

    Gives grants to states and schools for creating programs to educate students with disabilities.

  • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

    Individuals with disabilities have equal rights to programs and services.

  • Education of All Handicapped Children Act of 1975

    Students with disabilities have rights to free and appropriate education, the least restrictive environment, appropriate accommodations and modifications, and an IEP (among other things).

  • Board of Education of HHCD v. Rowley

    Establishes the Rowley Two-Part test to see if FAPE and IDEA are being met.

  • Amendments to the Education of All Handicapped Children Act

    FAPE, LRE, and IEP also available to preschool children.

  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

    Reinforces the Education for All Handicapped Children Act and expands disability categories.

  • Americans with Disabilities Act

    Prohibits discrimination of individuals with disabilities in adulthood.

  • Brittany Diagnosed With Dyslexia

    Brittany Diagnosed With Dyslexia
    My six-year-old sister, Brittany, is diagnosed with dyslexia and "a learning disability". She is then placed in special education classes.

  • Amendments to IDEA

    More detail about who should be present in an IEP meeting and addition of state responsibility for track performance and growth.

  • No Child Left Behind Act

    Provides for reading interventions and school choice.

  • IDEA Reauthorized

    Changes to the IEP, due process, and student discipline.

  • Brittany's New Diagnosis

    Brittany's New Diagnosis
    My sister is diagnosed with "mild retardation" after undergoing extensive testing through the North Bay Regional Center

  • Dad's Diagnosis

    Dad's Diagnosis
    My father is diagnosed with Bipolar I disorder, and finally begins receiving treatment.

  • Bipolar Diagnosis

    Bipolar Diagnosis
    I am diagnosed with Bipolar II Disorder, which begins my reexamination of mental illness-related language.

  • Hearing Loss

    Hearing Loss
    I am diagnosed with mild-to-moderate hearing loss.