-
American Asylum for the Education & Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb
The Connecticut Asylum for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons, the first permanent school for deaf Americans, opened it's doors on April 15, 1817. In early America, almost all children born deaf never learned to communicate with others except by home-made signs. Educating a child with a disability was basically thought of as impossible and wasteful before this time. Deaf individuals were often regarded as cognitively impaired and were often treated poorly. -
Name Change and Federal Funding
During this time the name of the Asylum was changed to The American School for the Deaf and the Connecticut General Assembly granted a charter for the school in 1816 because of the exhaustive and persistent efforts of Dr. Mason Fitch Cogswell, who had a deaf daughter, and Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet. -
Comprehensive Programs
By 1870 the school offers comprehensive educational programs for hearing and visually impaired students. -
The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD)
The AAIDD is the oldest professional association concerned with cognitive & developmental disabilities. AAIDD advocates for the equality, dignity, and human rights of all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. -
Compulsory Education
By 1918 all of the states in the U.S. have mandated compulsory education. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
In Brown v. Board of Education, it was determined that segregation on the basis of race violated equal educational opportunity & was therefore unconstitutional. The Brown decision led the way to a growing understanding that all people, regardless of race, gender, or disability, have the right to a public education. -
Bureau of Education for the Handicapped (aka OSEP)
OSEP provides leadership and support for professionals working with children with disabilities. Another vital role of OSEP is to protect the educational rights of children with disabilities from age three through twenty-one. The purpose and mission of OSEP is to strengthen & coordinate activities on behalf of children with disabilities. -
The Handicapped Children's Early Education Assistance Act
The Handicapped Children's Early Education Assistance Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-538), Is the first piece of legislation that focused entirely on the education of all children with disabilities. This act provides for establishing 75-100 model programs for preschool handicapped children. -
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 - Section 504
Guarantees certain rights to all individuals with disabilities in the United States. It was one of the first federal civil rights laws offering protection for people with disabilities. It set the paradigm for ensuing legislation for people with disabilities, including but not limited to the Virginians with Disabilities Act in 1985 and the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. -
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA)
Also known as Public Law 94-142, necessitates that all public schools accepting any federal funds must provide equal access to the education for children with physical and/or mental disabilities. Initially, the law focused on guarantying that all children with disabilities had access to education & due process. This law was the first major legislation put into motion that ultimately paved the way for special education as we know it today. -
The Individuals with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The ADA is introduced as a civil rights law that disallows discrimination based on disability. The ADA also requires covered employers to supply reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities. It also prescribed accessibility requirements on public accommodations, which mandates wheelchair access and etc. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_education_in_the_United_States#:~:text=Finally%2C%20special%20education%20programs%20in,States%20Congress%20in%201975%2C%20in -
IDEA
Six pillars of IDEA: Individualized Education Plan (IEP), Free & appropriate public education (FAPE), Least restrictive environment, appropriate evaluation, Parent & teacher participation, and procedural safeguards. Inclusion and mainstreaming is the goal, not segregation and special schools. -
No Child Left Behind Act
The purpose of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 was “to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on challenging State academic achievement standards and state academic assessments.” -
The Assistive Technology Act
Originally instated in 1998, the Assistive Technology Act was reauthorized in 2004 & provides assistive technology to children with disabilities so that they can more fully participate in education, meaningful employment, and simple self-care activities on a level playing field with peers. Assistive technology allows and helps inclusion efforts. A child with a disability might be able to perform at the same level as peers with a little assistance. https://youtu.be/DB9pKkZoJDc -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA)
IDEA makes available free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities throughout the U.S. & ensures special education and related services are provided to those children. IDEA serves 2 primary purposes. The first is to provide a free & appropriate education that meets a child's unique needs & prepares them for further education, future employment, and independent living. The second goal is to protect the rights of both children with disabilities and their parents.
