-
Connecticut Asylum for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons opens.
The first school for deaf Americans in Hartford Connecticut. Established by Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc. Both were strong advocates for making sure deaf children had access to education the same as anyone else. Instructors taught through sign language. -
Braille Invented by Louis Braille
Based on military code called night writing which was developed to communicate without sound and in darkness. Developed by Louis Braille at 15 years old who lost his sight as a child. -
New England Asylum for the Blind
Located in Watertown, MA, and now known as the Perkins School for the Blind. The first school for the blind in the U.S. Responsible for contributions such as the Perkins Brailler and and the Perkins Braille and Talking Book Library. -
Columbia Institution for the Deaf and Dumb Founded
Currently known as the Gallaudet University and located in Washington, D.C., United States. The only recognized school for the deaf to offer college degrees. Organized by General Amos Kendall after becoming aware of several deaf and blind children in D.C. -
American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD)
The oldest professional association involved with intellectual and developmental disabilities. -
New Jersey Home for the Education and Care of Feebleminded Children established.
Currently known as The Vineland Training School and located in New Jersey. Their mission has been to educate people with developmental disabilities so that they can live independently. -
Elizabeth Farrel establishes program for "backwards" or "slow learning" children in New York City
Farrel later organized the CEC and was its first president. -
CEC Organized
Council for Exceptional Children organized and founded in New York. Dedicated to advancing the success of children with exceptionalities. https://www.cec.sped.org/About-Us/CEC-Milestones -
Perkins Brailler Invented
Braille typewriter that made the braille writing process easier for students. Invented by David Abraham who was a woodworking teacher at the Perkins School for the Blind. -
Deinstitutionalization Movement of 1950s-60s
Began in 1955 with the introduction of the first effective antipsychotic medication Thorazine. Deinstitutionalization moved the severely mentally ill out of state institutions and marked the later closing of these institutions. Started a mental illness crisis by not providing discharged people the medication and rehabilitation services needed to live afterward. Also took away facilities for people diagnosed later down the line to get help. -
Training of Professional Personnel Act of 1959
A federal program that trained program administrators and teachers of children with disabilities -
Teachers of the Deaf Act
A federal program which trained instructors for children who were dear or hard of hearing. -
Association for Children with Learning Disabilities
Now known as the Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA). Created because of a common concern related to the recognition of the need for services for exceptional children. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
Allowed grants to schools and institutions that were devoted to the education of children with disabilities. -
Children with Specific Learning Disabilities Act
Federal law that mandated support services for students with learning disabilities. -
Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Citizens v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Case in which a law that gave public schools authority to deny school-age children that had mental devolpment issues was deemed unconstitutional. Every student was declared allowed to have free public education regardless of disabilities. -
Principle of Normalization Introduced to the U.S.
Dr. Wolf Wolfensberger, after visiting Scandinavia and the Swedish Association for Retarded Children, brought back this concept of normalization to the United States. Normalization is the acceptance of people with disabilities and offering them the same things that are available to other citizens. It looked at the concept of disability as not just a medical problem but a social one. -
Mills v. Board of Education of District of Columbia
Led to the passage of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Ruling by that cour that children with disabilities had the right to free public education. Decided that no child should be denied an education based on funding and that schools had to find a way to provide equal services to students with disabilities. -
Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Prohibits discrimination based on a person's disability in any program or activity that receives federal funding. -
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
One of the first U.S. federal civil rights laws that offered protection for people with disabilities. Prohibits discrimination against these individuals. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA)
Required public schools to accept federal funds to provide equal access to education as well as one free meal a day for children with disabilities. Also formed the early version of the individualized education program (IEP). -
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services created under U.S. Department of Education
A program that supports the education of people with disabilities of all ages. -
Handicapped Children's Protection Act
Provided funds to assist states in educating handicapped children. Children from ages 3 to 5 are guaranteed a free and appropriate education. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
Prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. Required employers to provide reasonable accommodation to employees with disabilities and accessibility requirements for public spaces. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Replaced the Education for Handicapped Children Act. Focused on the individual instead of the condition the individual may have. Reformed the EHA and promoted developments in research as well as creating programs for exceptional children in their local schools instead of separate ones. -
No Child Left Behind (NCLB)
Law that held schools accountable for students learning. Was supposed to level the field for students. Learning was standards-based and every student was graded equally. States were responsible to bring all students to a "proficient" level, including students in special education. A controversial act that was later replaced in 2015 by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESA). -
Assistive Technology Act of 2004
Required states to provide direct aid to those with disabilities to ensure they have access to whatever technology they need. -
IDEA 2004
Reform of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990. Reformed the process schools used to determine how to assist students with learning difficulties and determining eligibility for special education. Reformed the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) Process. -
Every Student Succeeds Act
Replaced the No Child Left Behind Act. Aims to provide an equal opportunity for students who receive special education services. Effects K-12 public school education. Gives the states more power in how schools account for student achievement. Supplied different options for assessing students with disabilities. -
Sources
Yarborough, R. W. (1969). The Learning Disabilities Act of 1969, A Commentary. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 2(9), 438–440. doi: 10.1177/002221946900200901 Handicapped Children's Protection Act, P.L. 99-372. (1985, November 30). Retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED276173 CEC Milestones. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.cec.sped.org/About-Us/CEC-Milestones
