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American Asylum for the Education and Instruction for the Deaf and Dumb
This was the first permanent school for individuals who were deaf or hard of hearing. The idea for the school came from 2 families who reached out to other families and used their political influence to conduct a census to see how many other deaf students were in the area. The families sent Thomas Gallaudet to Europe to study their methods and he brought back sign language and a teacher from France. This school received the first public funding for individuals with disabilities. -
Council for Exceptional Children Opened
The organization was organized by students and faculty attending the Teachers College at Columbia University. Elizabeth E. Farrell founded the organization and served as the first president until 1926. The aim was to educate teachers on how to work with students with special needs and to establish professional standards for these teachers. The council is still operational and a huge provider of advocacy and professional development resources. -
Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation Opened
The foundation was created by the Kennedy family in memorial to their son, Joseph Jr. The organization focused on children diagnosed with MR. The organization supported a wide range of extracurricular activities for the children including summer camps and even starting the Special Olympics. In later years, the foundation focused on the legal and ethical issues surrounding special education. -
Willowbrook State School Opens
Willowbrook opened as an institution for those with intellectual disabilities and was supported by the state of New York. The school quickly become overpopulated with the students living in deplorable conditions and being used as medical experiments. The school remained opened until 1987 even though various news outlets reported on the living conditions. -
Maternal and Child Health and Mental Retardation Planning Act
Developed and passed by President Kennedy, this was the first major piece of legislation to provide care and solutions for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The act aimed to provide funding for states to update or build their programs and facilities in place for these individuals. The program also sought to educate families on prevention through maternity and infant care. -
Landmark Cases for FAPE
Rooted in Rights
PARC v. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Mills v. Board of Education, DC were two of the first cases to fight for access to education for all students no matter the severity of their disability. Schools could not discriminate based on “educability” or the cost associated with providing the proper education. Both cases were successful and paved the way for additional families to do the same. -
Rehabilitation Act
The act prohibits the discrimination of individuals with disabilities from any program or agency receiving federal funding. This applies to school as well. Students cannot be turned away from public education because of a disability. The students must be provided with equal access and meet the accommodations laid out in a 504 plan or IEP. -
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
FERPA allowed parents to view any records or files kept by the school about their child. The legislation also protected the students' right to privacy about their disability making teachers and the school treat the information with confidentiality. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
Building upon the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, ADA prohibits the discrimination of individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life. This includes employment, education, transportation, and all places open to the general public. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
IDEA Started as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, or PL 94-142, in 1975. The goal is to provide a free and appropriate education to all students following 6 principles. Zero Reject, FAPE, LRE, Nondisciminatory Evaluations, Parental Participation and Rights to Confidentiality, and Procedural Safegaurds. -
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
Overview
ESSA reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and replaces No Child Left Behind. The goal is to continue to support low performing schools and require that all students receive instruction of high academic standards. ESSA also uses statewide assessments to progress monitor those standards and providing that information to parents and schools to maintain accountability.
