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Jacob Rodrigues Periera used dactylology to teach the deaf and mute
He adapted Bonet’s manual alphabet by adding handshapes to match a sound instead of a letter. -
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet established the American School for the Deaf
The American School for the Deaf was the first school for deaf students -
Act to Promote Education of the Blind
The Act to Promote Education of the Blind supports the printing and distribution of educational materials for those who are blind. Educational materials include textbooks in Braille, computer software and teaching aides. -
Alfred Binet establishes intelligence testing
Alfred Binet developed a test to determine a persons intelligence quotient (IQ). -
Lewis Terman published the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale
Lewis Terman revised the Binet Intelligence test from France for use in America. -
The International Council for the Education of Exceptional Children founded by Elizabeth E. Farrell.
The CEC provides advocacy and professional development for educators who work towards the success of students with exceptionalities. -
March of Dimes founded by Franklin D. Roosevelt
The March of Dimes mission is to prevent birth defects, raise awareness for healthy pregnancies and premature births. -
Leo Kanner first describes Autism
Kanner studied children who displayed symptoms or echolalia, autistic aloneness, obsessive desire for sameness, intelligence and excellent memory. -
Hans Asperger
Hans Asperger described autism-like behaviors in children with normal language and language development. These children exhibited difficulties with social and communication skills. -
United Cerebral Palsy Association established
UCP works to provide services and support to people with disabilities. UCP offers many different resources to help people with disabilities and their families. -
Principle of Normalization
Under this principle, individuals with intellectual disabilities were to be provided with living and learning experiences that were as close to normal as possible. Instructional strategies in the classroom were to be as close to normal as well. -
Deinstitutionalization Movement
Deinstitutionalization was the move from people with disabilities living in large institutions to small community-based homes or living with their families. -
Association for Children with Learning Disabilities (ACLD) was founded
The ACLD was created by parents who were trying to find resources and services for their children with learning disabilities. The ACLD provides resources and advocates for individuals with learning disabilities. -
Bernard Rimland founds The Autism Society
The Autism Society works for nationwide awareness for Autism and provides resources and support for those within the autism community. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
The ESEA was signed by President Johnson and offered grants to school districts for special education, low-income districts, textbooks and more to improve education. -
Bureau of Education for the Handicapped created
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 established the Bureau of Education for the Handicapped by Congress to work towards improving education for individuals with disabilities. -
Title VI added to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
Title VI provided states with funding for the education of children with disabilities. -
Helen Keller National Center
The Helen Keller National Center was created by an Act of Congress. It provides training and resources to people who have hearing and vision loss. -
Bruno Bettelheim popularizes the theory of “Refrigerator Mothers”
The “Refrigerator Mothers” theory suggested autism was caused by mothers or parents who were emotionally distant from their children. -
Eunice Kennedy Shriver founds the Special Olympics
Eunice Kennedy Shriver started camps for children with intellectual disabilities which later turned into the Special Olympics. The first International Special Olympics games were held in July 1968 for individuals with disabilities. -
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Section 504 is a civil law the prohibits the discrimination of a person with a disability from participating in any federally financed program because of their disability. -
The Education for All Handicapped Children’s Act
This act mandated that states in the United States provide an appropriate education to all students regardless of disabilities in the least restrictive environment possible. This Act is now known as Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA). -
TASH founded
TASH advocates for those with disabilities. They provide resources, information, professional development, advocacy and research for individuals with disabilities and their families. -
Office of Special Education Programs founded
OSEP is an office within the U.S. Department of Education. OSEP works to create policies and programs to assist individuals with disabilities. -
DSM-III
Autism was established as its own disorder separate from schizophrenia. -
Education of the Deaf Act (EDA)
Granted Gallaudet a school for the deaf, University status. Gallaudet provides education at the elementary, secondary and undergraduate level to individuals who are deaf. Gallaudet also does research and provides programs for people who are deaf. -
O. Ivar Lovaas develops a method of applied behavioral analysis (ABA)
Dr. Lovaas began developing his method of ABA in the 1960’s. He published a paper in 1987 that brought attention to his methods. He was considered a pioneer in the applied behavioral analysis field. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Autism was added as a disability category during the revision of IDEA in 1990 -
DSM-IV
Asperger’s Disorder was added to the DSM-IV. -
Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee established
The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) was established under the Children’s Health Act. The IACC provides public awareness on policies, research and programs relating to autism. They also provide advice to the Secretary of Health and Human Services on matters relating to autism. -
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
NCLB requires state testing in the core subjects of math, science, reading and writing. General education teachers must accommodate students with disabilities by adapting instructional strategies for their needs. -
Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA 2004)
New additions were made to IDEA including new standards on discipline, identifying students with disabilities, early intervention, new requirements for special education teachers and access to instructional materials. -
The Combating Autism Act of 2006
The Combating Autism Act of 2006 was signed by President George W. Bush and provides funding for research, prevention and treatment of autism. -
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Provided more funding to Title I schools to improve learning for students identified as at-risk. This funding will allow schools to improve education through innovative strategies. -
DSM-V
Autism Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, and autism related developmental disorders were combined into Autism Spectrum Disorder in the DSM-V. -
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
ESSA limits alternative test taking for special education students. The expectation is that all students, including special education students take district and state exams. ESSA works with IDEA to provide the best education for special education students.