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First known educator of the deaf invents sign language
Charles-Michel, abbé de l’Epée, who studied to be a Catholic priest, after a chance encounter with two deaf sisters instead dedicated his life to being and educator for the deaf in France. He developed a system for spelling out French words with a manual alphabet, French Sign Language, FSL. This is the precursor to American Sign Language. He went on to found the first free school for the deaf. -
Valentin Haüy founds the first school for the blind
Valentin was educated by the abbey monks where his father worked. He learned to speak 10 different languages in addition to reading Greek and Hebrew. He became committed to helping the blind when he saw a group of blind people being mocked at a festival. Afterwards he met a young blind beggar, François Lesueur, who he taught to read and write using a system he developed using raised letters. Haüy founded the Institute for Blind Youth (Institution des jeunes aveugles), in February 1785. -
Thomas Gallaudet founded the American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut
Thomas Gallaudet brought French Sign Language, FSL to the United States in 1816 and founded the first school for the deaf in America. FSL was combined with other sign languages already being used in America and ASL or American Sign Language was created. The American School for the Deaf became the first primary and secondary education school to receive aid from the federal government. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Raa0vBXA8OQ?rel=0&autoplay=1 -
Brown v. Board of Education
School children from four states were represented. This was a landmark civil rights case that argued against segregated schools stating that they were inherently unequal. After the successful decision in this case regarding separation of children by race, parents of children with disabilities began to bring lawsuits against their school districts for separating their children on the basis of their disability. https://disabilityjustice.org/right-to-education/ -
Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children (PARC) v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
The court ruled that students with intellectual and learning disabilities who were currently in state run institutions be placed in public school settings that were appropriate to meet their needs. This determination would be made after each student was properly evaluated. It was agreed that parents must be made part of the process ant that there be some means established to settle any disputes regarding decisions. -
Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia
This case revolved around the school district's practice of suspending and expelling students with disabilities. Students identified as having mental, learning or behavioral disabilities were not provided access to publicly supported education. Some children were being reassigned or transferred to other than a regular public school setting without due process of the law. -
Education for all Handicapped Children Act of 1975 Public Law (PL) 94-142
The first special education law specifically targeting children with physical and mental disabilities. It stated that children with disabilities must be provided with same educational opportunities as other children. It further stipulated that public schools receiving federal funds would be required to provide one free meal a day to these students. It also instituted systematic evaluation requirements for special education. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990 IDEA, PL 101-476
Act is a modification of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. It ensures that students with disabilities are educated in the least restrictive environment. Regular education teachers added to IEP team. Assistive technology must be considered. Traumatic brain injury and autism were added as new disabilities. Mandated that a transition plan be developed for students for transitioning after high school. States required to offer mediation services to resolve disputes with parents. -
No Child Left Behind Act of 2001
This act was passed by the senate on December 18, 2001 but not signed into law until January 8, 2002. It added more accountability to schools and teachers. It provided for school choice. Required school to rely on evidenced-based research. Supported early reading. Led to increased reading math scores for African American and Hispanic elementary age students. Students with disabilities were included in the standardized testing and schools would be rewarded for showing growth in this population. -
Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 ESSA
This act grants more control to the individual states. Continues the annual standardized testing component. Each state must submit reasonable goals and standards to the US Department of Education. Most students with disabilities will be required to take the same assessments as other students. The act only allows one percent of students overall who have severe cognitive disabilities.
https://www.gettingsmart.com/2018/06/the-impact-of-essa-identifying-evidence-based-resources/
