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Pennsylvania Hospital
"The Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, with the help of Benjamin Franklin, is the first hospital to create a special section for the treatment of mental illness and mental retardation. In 1756, these patients would be chained to the walls of the basement and put on display for a fee. " Taken from
http://www.museumofdisability.org/medicine_timeline.asp -
Virginia
Virginia creates an entire hospital for people with disabilities. In the vernacular of the time "idiots, lunatics, and other people of unsound mind" -
First Psychiatry Textbook
Dr. Benjamin Rush, considered the "father of American psychiatry," writes his Observations and Inquiries upon the Diseases of the Mind. It was the first textbook on psychiatry in the United States. Rush also signed the Declaration of Independence. Taken from:
http://www.museumofdisability.org/medicine_timeline.asp -
Mental Retardation and Mental Illness
Jean Etienne Esquirol publishes Des Maladies Mentales. Esquirol was the first to distinguish between mental illness and mental retardation. He also established a classification system for mental disabilities. Taken from:
http://www.museumofdisability.org/medicine_timeline.asp -
Galludet College
Galludet College is founded in Washington, D.C. This college has had the mission of providing quality education to the deaf and hearing impaired from over 145 years. -
Baby Allowed to Die to Reduce Disabled Population
Dr. Harry Haiselden allows a disabled newborn to perish and promotes this as a way to reduce the disabled population. In 1916 the movie "The Black Stork" is produced to further advocate the practice. Taken from:
http://www.museumofdisability.org/medicine_timeline.asp -
Court Ordered Forced Sterlization of Feeble-Minded
Buck v. Bell is heard in the Supreme Court of the United States. The court rules in favor of forced sterilization of the feeble-minded. Taken From:
http://www.museumofdisability.org/medicine_timeline.asp -
Man with Polio Elected President
Franklin Roosevelt is elected president of the United States. President Roosevelt had contracted polio in 1927 and often times keep his disability hidden from the public eye -
Mental Retardation and Community Health Center Construction Act
The Mental Retardation Facilities and Community Health Center Construction Act was passed. John F. Kennedy signed the bill into law on October 31, 1963. Taken from:
http://www.museumofdisability.org/medicine_timeline.asp -
IDEA Passed
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Acts passes, clearing the road for the expansion of services to students with all types of disabilities -
NCLB
The No Child Left Behind Act passes increasing accountability to schools for all students including those with disabilities. This bipartisan political effort forced schools to re-examine how they were educating their students
