History of Special Education

By sbking12

  • Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon

    Published their intelligence test which is the basis for modern IQ testing.

  • Leo Kanner

    Leo Kanner identifies characteristics of children with autism.

  • Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965

    The first federal law addressing the education of students with disabilities and offered funding to states in assisting them to create and improve programs and services for students with disabilities.

  • Burton Blatt and Fred Kaplan

    Published a photographic depiction of life for those with intellectual disabilities in institutions. The amount of publicity the book got led to changes in law and policies about intellectual disabilities.

  • Diana v. State Board of Education of California

    A Spanish-speaking student scored low on a IQ test that was given in English and the student was placed in a class for students with mild intellectual disabilities. The school system was ordered to test Spanish-speaking students in their native language.

  • Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children v. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    Parents won the court case that children with intellectual disabilities could benefit from education personalized for that students specific intellectual disabilities.

  • Mills v. Board of Education

    A court case for 18,000 students in Washington, D.C. with a variation of disabilities, and the court ordered the district to educate all students even those with disabilities.

  • Education of the Handicapped Act

    A law that increased federal funding for special education and allotted states with the duty of creating full opportunities for disabled students.

  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

    Reauthorization of the federal special education law, and special education was expanded to incorporate infants and young children for special education services. Also refined the need to support students transitioning from high school to post school education.

  • No Child Left Behind Act

    Increased the accountability for outcomes for all students and required that all students are to be taught by highly qualified teachers.