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New England Asylum for the Blind
Samuel Gridley Howe establishes the New England Asylum for the Blind -
Braille Code
In 1834, Louis Braille publishes the Braille code -
Massachusettes School for Idiotic and Feeble Minded Children
1848 - Samuel Gridley Howe establishes the Massachusettes School for Idiotic and Feeble Minded Children -
American School for the Deaf, Founded in Heartford, Connecticut
A crucial milestone for the way society viewed people with special needs, the school was founded based on goals of literacy, salvation, and the skills needed to earn a living. The school was established using sign language from the beginning and yet continues to educate many deaf and hard of hearing students. -
National Education Association establishes a section for teachers of children with disabilities
1897 – National Education Association establishes a section for teachers of children with disabilities -
Elizabeth Farrel
Elizabeth Farrel, later to become the first president of the Council for Exceptional Children, begins a program for “backwards” or “slow learning” children in New York City -
Teacher Training Program
The Vineland Training School in New Jersey inaugurates training programs for teachers of students with mental retardation. -
Exclusion of students due to disability
If disabled students were educated in any manner, it was often at asylums (American Asylum for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb). In 1893, the Massachusetts Supreme Court upheld the expulsion of a student solely due to poor academic ability (Smith, 2004; Yell, Rogers, & Rogers, 1998). This was followed by a later decision in Wisconsin to deny educating a student with cerebral palsy because he "produced a depressing" effect.
http://www.disabilitymuseum.org/dhm/edu/essay.html?id=38 -
Brown vs. Board of Education
Brown vs. Board of Education fought for desegregation of the school systems in the United States. This began the legislation for Special Education in the schools. The story of Brown vs. Board of Education ended legal segregation in the public schools on behalf of "seperate but equal". -
President's Panel on Mental Retardation
President John F. Kennedy appoints a 26 member committee to search for solutions when it came to mental retardation. The panel consisted of outstanding physicians, scientists, educators, lawyers, psychologists, and social scientists. The goal was to combat mental retardation. The goals may have been a bit off, but Kennedy knew that mental retardation could not be ignored. -
PARC vs. Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Association of Retarded Citizens vs. Pennsylvania was a lawsuit filed against the schools of Pennsylvania because they were refusing children with disabilities a free and appropriate education. The school thought the children should go to special schools. PARC won the ruling and another important step is made. -
Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia
This case was one of a few that ensured all students the right to public education, paid for no matter the cost. Prior to this case, many schools did not offer education to students with disabilities. The court decided that free education must be offered to all students, based on the students' individual needs. -
1st Grade
Entered 1st Grade at Bellevue Elementary, Santa Rosa, CA -
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act or PL 94-142 was a huge stride for Special Education Reform. The act said that all public schools receiving federal funding most provide a free and appropriate education (FAPE) for all students with disabilities between the ages of 5-21. Schools were order to evaluate those students and create a game plan with the parents to ensure the best possible education(IEP). Students were to be taught in the least resrtictive environment (LRE). -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act
Many children with disabilities were not allowed access to the public school system. The Education for All Handicapped Children Act was one of the few that enabled public education to all students, regardless of the cost. All schools recieved federal funding which provided equal access for all children with disabilities to be provided with education. -
I Start Speech Therapy
When I was in 7th grade at Cook Jr. High I was pulled out of class to attend speech therapy for a lisp, and a stutter. -
The American with Disabilities Act of 1990
Signed by President George H. W. Bush in 1990, the ADA is a wide-ranging civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. Disability is defined by the ADA as "a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity." -
IDEA Reauthorized and expanded by President Clinton- PL105-17
President Clinton added amendments to IDEA in order to "shift focus from providing access" to "providing meaningful and measurable programs for all students with disabilities" (Hardman & Nagle, 2004). This added features we see to this day by requiring measurable annual goals, assessment and measurement of progress, invitation to parents for IEP meetings, regular education teachers are required to be members of IEP team, and mandatory reporting of goals to parents (Esteves & Rao, 2008). -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
The IDEA was a statue to the EAHCA of 1975. Signed by President Clinton, the act called for early detection of children with disabilities before they enter school and to provide needed services. Individual Education Programs (IEP's) were also a part of this act. It was the act goal to bring the parents and schools together to form an educational program. This act also wanted disable children learning with their non-disable peers. -
No Child Left Behind
Signed by President Bush in 2002. NCLB is a law that requires state-wide assessments for all students in grades 3-8 and one assessment during high school. The assessments are created by the individual states and are to include math/reading/science. States determine what is proficiency is acceptable. In Iowa students must work to be above the 41st percentile. There has been a large amount of negative responses to this act since its creation, mostly by educators. -
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
This law ensures services to all children throughout the nation who have a disability. IDEA monitors early intervention, special education and other related services to many, many children of an assortment of ages. After the ball began rolling with Mills vs. Board of Education, several acts supporting help for students with disabilities sprang up. -
Sheep Cheese
Founded a sheep dairy and cheesemaking business -
Every Student Succeeds Act- President Obama
President Obama received bipartisan support to reaffirm and expand ESEA with this act. The law aims to provide high academic standards that will prepare all student for college or careers. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/12/10/every-student-succeeds-act-vs-no-child-left-behind-whats-changed/77088780/ -
Wood Carving Instructor
I started teaching woodcarving and tech skills at local maker studios. -
Met My Biological Father
I met my Dad for the first time the year I turned 50. -
Teaching during a pandemic
On a TPSL I began teaching in the DL model. My first long-term position was 6 months for a 3rd-grade class. I had one student who was challenged with many medical issues and was generally wheelchair-bound when out of his home. DL was great for him and he excelled academically. It was a very positive experience for me as well. DL is a model that may not work for all, but it's fantastic for some students. I loved the tech and would like to do more.