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The First Special Education School is Established
The American Asylum for Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons was the first Special Education school established in 1817. It was located in Hartford, Connecticut, due to the kindness of families pooling in money and resources together to create the school. Being "dumb" at the time referred to having speech problems. This school was the first of its kind in the US. https://www.gallaudet.edu/history-through-deaf-eyes/online-exhibition/formation-of-a-community/from-asylum-to-school -
The Arc
The Arc was founded in 1950 by parents of Children with disabilities in order to provide them with better opportunities and more representation in the rapidly changing world. The Arc has continues to change the status quo in the form of passing legislation, establishing national and local chapters, and providing support and materials to those who benefit from it, which is everyone who takes part in a student with disabilities' education. -
Brown Versus the Board of Education
Brown v. The Board of Education was a landmark Supreme Court case which desegregated public schools and mandated the inclusion of students who were not white in the regular educational setting. It declared segregation based on race unconstitutional. Additionally, it paved the way for more groups of students to be included and represented in the classroom.
https://florida.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/brown-vs-board-of-education-video/a-more-or-less-perfect-union/ -
PL 89-10 - ESEA of 1965
Public Law 89-10 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 provided a comprehensive plan for readdressing the inequality of educational opportunity for economically underprivileged children. This became the beginning of when special education legislation would become more prevalent. This Act applied to students who needed support to benefit from public school education. -
Vocational Rehabilitation Act
The VRA Defined handicapped person and
appropriate education, prohibits
discrimination in federally funded
programs. In addition, it prevents any organization from discriminating against a person due to a disability. Thus, people with disabilities are also protected against discrimination at school or in the workplace. As a result, they have greater access to exceed their expectations in any community, educational, or professional setting. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act
The EAHCA required free and appropriate education
for students with disabilities ages 5-18
and Individualized Education Plans. In addition, the act defined least restrictive environment in order to give students with disabilities an opportunity to succeed in an environment they can be supported in. This includes classrooms at different levels that each student can be placed in uniquely in order to meet their needs. -
EAHCA Amendments
These amendments to the Education for All Handicapped Children Act extended free and appropriate education
to children with disabilities ages 3-5, and establishes early intervention for infants/ toddlers with disabilities ages birth to 2. In addition, services and support were provided to the parents of these children. This would be the first act of legislation extending these accommodations to children with disabilities from an early age or birth. -
IDEA
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990 repealed the EAHCA, establishes person first language, expands special education services and provisions for due process
and confidentiality in the Special Education setting. It added transition services and planning, and other supports for students who were now included for the first time, such as students with Traumatic Brain Injuries and other disabilities that were previously not covered. -
No Child Left Behind
The NCLB Act of 2001 increased accountability and flexibility in use of federal funds, It offered school choice options, implements early reading interventions and provided a thorough way of ensuring assessments were conducted in order to gauge a student's progress. Teachers are required to be highly qualified in their subject area, including if they are teaching students with disabilities. In addition, standards of benchmarking progress became the indicators to see how a student is doing. -
IDEIA
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act required greater accountability for results so students with
disabilities are part of the accountability system. It required the IEP to describe the student’s involvement in the general education curriculum and detail the needed aids and accommodations. Here, students with disabilities were given more chances to succeed with supports in a general education classroom.
