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American Asylum for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb
The American Asylum for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb, now the American School for the Deaf, was opened in Hartford, Connecticut by Gallaudet. The school was the first permanent school for deaf Americans, and the American School for the Deaf is still open today. The school aimed to provide education (i.e. math, reading, writing, etc.) and means of communication for the deaf and dumb.
*"Dumb" refers to the inability to speak. -
Council for Exceptional Children
The International Council for the Education of Exceptional Children, now the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), was established at Columbia University by a group of 12 supervisors, administrators, and faculty members. The CEC aims to advance the success of children with exceptionalities through advocacy, standards, and professional development. The CEC website contains a plethora of valuable information related to special education.
CEC Website -
The Arc
The Arc was established by a group of parents and concerned individuals that came together to be voices of change for children with intellectual disabilities (ID). The Arc founders fought the notion that children with ID need to be institutionalized. The Arc aims to promote disability awareness, protect the rights of individuals with disabilities, and pursue full inclusion and participation in the community for individuals with disabilities.
The Arc -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) was passed to fund primary and secondary education (i.e. professional development, materials, resources, and parent outreach). Then, also in 1965, the Elementary and Secondary Amendments of 1965, which provided the first Federal grant program targeting students with disabilities, was passed. This provided funds for the first institutions and state-operated schools for students with disabilities. -
Elementary and Secondary Amendments of 1966
The Elementary and Secondary Amendments of 1966 established the first Federal grant program for students with disabilities at the local school level and facilitated the creation of the Bureau of Education of the Handicapped (BEH) and the National Advisory Council. The BEH is now known as the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). These agencies focused on meeting the needs of students with disabilities in schools. -
Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Citizens (PARC) Vs. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
PARC sued the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for denying a free and appropriate education for children with disabilities. The state of Pennsylvania allowed schools to deny an education to children with a mental age less than five. The judge ruled that all children ages 6-21, regardless of disability, must receive a free and appropriate education, and the education must be at the level given to their non-disabled peers. This ruling was foundational for future special education laws. -
Mills Vs. D.C. Board of Education
Peter Mills was a student with behavioral problems that had been excluded from school due to the district claiming it would be too expensive to educate students like Mills. The court ruled that no child eligible for a publicly supported education could be denied an education without an equal opportunity provided, a free and appropriate education (FAPE) must be provided to all students, a child could not be suspended for more than two days without a hearing and Mills had to be provided with FAPE. -
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 mandates that no qualified individual, regardless of disability status, can be excluded from, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity that receives Federal financial assistance or is conducted by an executive agency or the United States Postal Service. This law protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination in the community, workplace, and schools by prohibiting exclusion and discrimination. -
PL94-142: Education of All Handicapped Children Act of 1975
The Education of All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 (EHA) mandated that all children with disabilities received a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) designed to meet their unique needs, an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP), nondiscriminatory evaluation, and placement in the least restrictive environment (LRE). The act protected the rights of children with disabilities and their parents and ensured that they received FAPE. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private areas that are open to the public. ADA helps individuals with disabilities participate fully in their schools, workplaces, and communities by providing reasonable accommodations. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), previously EHA, was updated to expand the law's provisions, strengthen the rights of students with disabilities and their families, and further protect students with disabilities. The law mandates: FAPE, appropriate evaluation, IEPs, LRE, parent participation, and procedural safeguards.
This video provides a history and summary of IDEA 2004
