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Special Education and Inclusive Education
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First public school for students with disabilities
Charles Michel L’Epeé established the first public school in France dedicated to individuals with disabilities. He emphasized the importance of teaching language and phonetics through innovative methods tailored specifically for deaf and blind students. -
Jean Jacques Rousseau Publishes Emile
Jean Jacques Rousseau released a book called Emile. This book advocated that learning should progress at a pace that is suited to the child’s cognitive development and with limited influence from society. -
Institution Nationale des Jeunes Aveugles
Valentin Haüy established the “Institution Nationale des Jeunes Aveugles,” the first school dedicated to educating blind individuals. Haüy was influenced by Rousseau, L’Epeé, and Madame Von Paradis, a blind musician who played a key role in helping him develop the school’s teaching methods. Through these methods, Haüy successfully educated a blind student who later became a teacher at the same institution (Safford 38-46). -
Jean Marc Gaspard Itard
Jean Marc Gaspard Itard explored various techniques to teach children with disabilities. He is best known for his attempt to educate a boy discovered living in the wild, an endeavor he pursued for five years before ultimately abandoning due to limited success. Despite this, Itard’s research and efforts had a lasting impact on special education practices, particularly in the United States.