-
1877
The term "word blindness"; is coined by German neurologist Adolf Kussamaul to describe "a complete text blindness -
1887
German physician Rudolf Berlin refines our definition of reading problems using the term "dyslexia"; to describe a "very great difficulty in interpreting written or printed symbols -
1895
Ophthalmologist James Hinshelwood describes in medical journal, "The Lancet", the case of acquired word blindness and recognized a need for early identification of these children by teachers. -
1905
The first U.S. report of childhood reading difficulties is published by Cleveland ophthalmologist Dr. W.E. Bruner. -
1960's
U.S. Office of Education formed a committee to issue a report on learning disabilities and to write a definition of learning disabilities to be used as a basis for legislation. -
1963
Samuel A. Kirk is the first person to use the term "learning disability" at a conference in Chicago. -
1968
Definition of learning disabilities formulated by the National Advisory Committee on Handicapped Children is the most popular definition and by 1970 was adopted to PL 94-142. -
1969
Congress passes the Children with Specific Learning Disabilities Act, which is included in the Education of the Handicapped Act of 1970 (PL 91-142) -
1975
PL 94-142 mandates FAPE -
1976/77 -1998/99
From 1976/77 through 1998/99, the number of students identified as having a learning disability has doubled to more than 2.8 million. -
1977
Federal government issued regulations pertaining to the identification of students with learning disabilities that incorporated the ability/achievement discrepancy. -
1985
Full inclusion movement from 1985 to present -
1987
The Interagency Committee on Learning Disabilities calls for the establishment of Centers for the Study of Learning and Attention to expand research and understanding of Learning Disabilities -
1990
PL 94-142 is renamed to IDEA. The tern disability replaces 'handicap' -
1996
Dr. Guinevere Eden and her research team at the National Institute of Mental Health used fMRI to identify regions in the brain that behave differently in dyslexics. -
1997
IDEA is reauthorized and regular education teachers are a part of the IEP process. Students have more access to the general education curriculum and they are included in state-wide assessments. -
2002
The President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education to recommend reform to improve special education. -
2002
No Child Left Behind Act was signed into law by President George W. Bush. It was to help the low academic achieving American students. -
2004
IDEA is reauthorized again. School personnel now have more authority in special education placement decisions and the new law is better aligned with No Child Left Behind. -
2004
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 identified a 'highly qualified' special education teacher, removed short-term objectives, removed the discrepancy model, and encouraged RTI. -
2005
Dr. Jeffrey Gruen and his research team at Yale University identified a gene that had patterns and variations that were strongly associated with dyslexia.