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1817-Rev. Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet becomes principal of the American Asylum for the Education of The Deaf and Dumb, the first residential school in the U.S.
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Samuel Gridley Howe establishes the New England Asylum for the Blind
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In 1834, Louis Braille publishes the braille code
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In 1839, the first teacher training program opens in Massachusetts
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1848- Samuel Gridley Howe establishes the Massachusetts School for the Idiotic and Feeble Minded Children
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1869- First Public School class for children with hearing impairments open in Boston
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1876-Edward Seguin helps to organize the first professional association concerned with disabilities (mental retardation) predecessor to today's American Association on Mental Retardation
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1897- NEA establishes a section for teachers of children with disabilities
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1898- Elizabeth Farrel later to become the first president of the Council for exceptional children, begins a program for "backwards," or "slow learning" children in NYC
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1904-the Vineland Training School in NJ inaugurates training programs for teachers of students with mental retardation
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1916-Louis Terman publishes the Stanford-Binet Scale of Intelligence
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Teachers college, Columbia University , begins training program for teachers of pupils who are gifted
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1922-Organization that would later become the Council for Exceptional Children is founded in NYC
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1922-organization that would later become the council for exceptional children is founded in nyc
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1928-Seeing eye dogs are introduced in the US
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1936- First Compulsory law for testing the hearing of school age children is enacted in NYC
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1949-UCP association is founded
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1950-ARC is founded
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1953-national association for gifted is founded
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1963-Association for children with learning disabilities is founded
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1972-Wolfe introduces the concept of normalization, initially coined by Begt Nigre of Sweden to the US
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1973- public law 93-112 the vocational rehabilitation act of 1973, is enacted; Section 504 prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities
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1975-Education for All Handicapped Children is passed; landmark legislation ensures, among other provisions, a free and appropriate public education for all children with disabilities
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1986-EHS of 1986 is enacted; mandates a special education for preschoolers with disabilities and incentives for providing early intervention services to infants and toddlers
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1990- Americans with disabilities act becomes law; prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability
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1990-PL-101-476, the individuals with Disabilioties Education Act (commonly known as IDEA) is passed; among oother provisions, emphasizes transition planning for adolescents with disabilities
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1997- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (PL-105-117) is reauthorized, providing a major retooling and expansion of services for students with disabilities and their families
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All students including those with disabilities should be proficient in math and reading by the year 2014
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Signed by president Obama, this campaign promises "funding the individuals with disabilities education act", and 12.2 billion dollars in additional funds
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Students with disabilities are now required to be included on state and district wide assessments. Regular education teachers are to be included on the IEP team.
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*FUTURE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION *
In spite of decreased backing, old fashioned evaluation, and the need for resources, special education continues to evolve and thrive alongside technology. A lot of teachers see these tools helping the future of special-Ed and helping to close the gap, leveling out the learning curve for all students, in spite of their disabilities that have put them at an advantage in the past. We hope for a special education system changing for the best and not reverting.
