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American Asylum for the Education and Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb
Now known as the American School for the Deaf, the American Asylum for the Education and Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb was the first special education school in the United States. The school was located in Hartford, Connecticut. It is also the first primary and secondary school to receive federal funding. -
Plessy vs. Ferguson
The ruling in this case supported the "separate, but equal" doctrine. This impacted individuals with disabilities because during this time, many were placed in homes or kept away from individuals without disabilities. -
Helen Keller Graduates
In 1904, Helen Keller became the first deaf and blind woman to graduate from Radcliffe College with her Bachelor's of Arts degree. https://youtu.be/oxiJ02-hpZY -
Compulsory Education
Complusory Education requires students to be schooled by public or accredited public schools. Prior to this law, students with various disabilities were clumped togeher or didnt have access to educational services. Although, this law was established across the country by 1918, it was not fully implemented. -
United Cerebral Palsy
This charitable organization offers educational, therapuetic, social/recreational and economic support to individuals with disabilities. https://youtu.be/jgRTOMEnmJA -
Brown vs. The Board of Education
The U.S. Supreme Court held that a separate education for African-American children was not an equal education, providing an important precedent for an integrated public education for all citizens Eventually, this applied to children with disabilities. -
Free and Appropriate Education
A free and appropriate education is guaranteed under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. "FAPE is defined as an educational program that is individualized to a specific child, that meets that child's unique needs, provides access to the general curriculum, meets the grade-level standards established by the state, and from which the child receives educational benefit." -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act
This law requires all schools who received federal funding to provide equal access to education to students with disabilities. The law introduced the practice of mainstreaming. https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/STATUTE-89/pdf/STATUTE-89-Pg773.pdf -
Best Buddies
Best Buddies in a nonprofit organization that pairs individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities with individuals without disabilities to form meaningful friendships/relationships. Many schools host clubs to help form these enriching experiences. www.bestbuddies.org
https://youtu.be/4x3n95uu9qA -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
The law has been revised several times. However, it is clearly defines the disabilities that a child may have that would qualify them for special education and/or related services. Included in this law is procedural safeguards, parent and teacher participation, appropriate evaluation, FAPE, LRE and IEP guidelines.
