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First Public Special Education Class
Rhode Island established the first public special education class in the U.S. in 1896, marking the start of public responsibility for educating children with disabilities. -
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The History of Special Education
This timeline underlines fundamental milestones in the development of special education, focusing on landmark cases, notable legal decisions, and significant organizations that have contributed to growth in the special education field. -
Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), founded in 1922 by educators from Columbia University, is dedicated to enhancing the education and lives of children with disabilities or exceptional talents. It has significantly impacted legislation on teacher training and special education research for over a century.
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Brown v. Board of Education
The Brown v. Board of Education was a landmark civil rights case addressing racial segregation in public schools. The Supreme Court ruled that "separate but equal" was fundamentally unequal and had no place in education; therefore, the court decided to end racial segregation in schools for all schools in the United States.
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Head Start Program
The Head Start Program began as a summer initiative that served over 560,000 children and families nationwide, emphasizing inclusion for children with special needs. By 1970, it became the first federally funded program requiring at least 10% of enrolled children to have disabilities, highlighting the importance of early intervention in special education. -
PARC v. Commonwealth
The Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Citizens (PARC) sued the state over a law that permitted public schools to exclude children with intellectual or developmental disabilities. This landmark case influenced federal legislation like the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (1975) and IDEA (1990), which established that disability cannot be a reason to deny education. -
EAHCA
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA) was a significant U.S. law that transformed how children with disabilities access free public education, also known as Public Law 94-142. It mandated that public schools identify, evaluate, and serve all eligible children with disabilities. President Ford signed the EHA into law. -
Public Law 99-457
Early Intervention Added to Federal Law (Public Law 99-457) expands the EHCA services to include infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities, now known as Part C of IDEA. Families can access speech and language therapy, physical and occupational therapy, and screenings through an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), addressing both the child’s and family’s needs. -
American with Disabilities
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a crucial law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in public life, including employment, schools, and transportation. It ensures that individuals can fully participate in school by requiring accessible facilities, such as ramps and elevators, and equal access to programs and services. -
IDEA
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), signed by President George H.W. Bush, replaced the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975. It ensures all children, regardless of disabilities, receive free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE) and includes services from birth to age 21.
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No Child Left Behind Act
President W. Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002, a piece of legislation with the goal of improving educational outcomes by placing a strong emphasis on proficiency, particularly in subjects such as reading and math, for all students, including those with disabilities.
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IDEA Reauthorization
The 2004 reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) law reinforced several essential factors to enhance academic results for learners with disabilities, including the No Child Left Behind Act, early intervention, discipline procedures, family involvement, and Response to Intervention (RTI), which aims to identify learning disabilities earlier and more effectively. -
Accessible Educational Materials
The AEM Center was established to provide accessible educational materials for students with disabilities, including braille, large print, audio formats, and assistive technology-compatible digital text.The AEM Center collaborates with states, districts, schools, and educators to ensure compliance with accessibility laws from the reauthorized Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004.