From Access to Accountability: The History of Special Education in the United States
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Watson v. City of Cambridge
This court case deemed that students with disabilities or students noted as "weak in the mind" could be expelled from school. It was thought that these students were a distraction in class, a possible safety hazard, and unteachable or at the very least not benefited from an education. -
White House Conference of 1910
This conference pushed for the movement of disabled kids out of institutions and into the public school system. This led to the students that were moved into the public school system being segregated from "typical" kids permanently. Although the children were technically in school whilst being segregated, laws made to enforce education in the classes were ineffective. -
Beattie v. Board of Education
After this case, it was possible to exclude students with disabilities. This case was based mainly on the idea that a child's behaviors and physiological symptoms nauseated the teachers. Despite having a policy of compulsory attendance, the court still ruled that schools were allowed to exclude students. -
Cuyahoga County Ohio Council for the Retarded Child and Other Advocacy Groups
This, among other advocate groups such as the National Association for Retarded Citizens and the Council for Exceptional Children, worked to provide support for people with disabilities. In particular, this council set stage for national advocacy movements and helped in the development of Special Education Services. This group was founded by five mothers of exceptional children who sponsored their own special education classes after their children were excluded from school. -
Brown v. Board of Education
This decision ruled that segregation in schools was unconstitutional, because schools could not be separate and equal, whether segregated for race or disability. This led people to wanting equal educational opportunities for all kids, not just typical ones. -
Department of Public Welfare v. Haas
Despite the headway made by the decision in Brown v. The Board of Education, disabled students were still not getting the same rights and opportunities as other children. This ruling stated that compulsory attendance did not require states to provide free public education to exceptional children, as it was thought that these students would not benefit from it. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and Education of the Handicapped Act
ESEA marks the first time that the federal government would provide funding to states for educating disabled children. Title IV of this act, added a year later, would add funding for grants for promising new programs to be developed for children with disabilities. ESEA was later replaced by EHA which required disabled kids be educated, expanded federal grants for the programs above, and provided funding to train teachers in special education. -
Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Citizens (PARC) v. Pennsylvania and Mills v. Board of Education
PARC v. Pennsylvania decided that disabled children could benefit from an education, and that education did not only include subjects such as math and reading, but also training in life skills such as clothing and feeding oneself, and access to a free and public education cannot be denied. Mills v. Board outlined due process for exclusion of exceptional children, requiring prior written notices at every step, eventually leading to a least restrictive environment and the IEP in the EAHCA (1975). -
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
This act highlights the first federal civil right laws to special education and related services needed for the person to progress. People with disabilities now had rights that were protected by law. With this law, no federally funded agency can discriminate against, deny benefits to, or exclude disabled persons. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
This act renamed the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA), and provided new language for disabilities as well as people with them. Now, the "people first" language would be used in the laws and deemed more politically correct. IDEA also required an individualized transition plan for students with disabilities 16 and over, which would take into account preferences and interests of the student. By 1997, providing a quality education for each student was the new goal. -
No Child Left Behind (NCLB)
This act required schools to show improvement in children's academics through each school year. It was an attempt to standardize education in order to ensure everyone was being taught equally, and no groups were being ignored. It was believed this would improve special education by holding schools accountable for their improvement. -
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Amendments Act
The ADA was founded in 1990, but with this amendment, it broadened the scope of disability, thus increasing the amount of people covered under Section 504. It ensured that the definition of disability would be broad and inclusive of much more than just blindness and deafness.
