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Introduction
Before the United States government legislated learning institutions to offer special learning classes, parents with special needs children home-schooled their kids or paid for inexpensive private schools. To push for special education schools, parents of special needs children formed advocacy groups in the 20th century to create public awareness of disabilities. It was only after the mid-20th century that these groups gained momentum. -
American School of Deaf
The History of special need education in the U.S. can be traced to 1817 when the first school for deaf students was opened in West Hartford. The school served as a landmark for opening other special needs education facilities. The institution restored human dignity amongst the physically challenged in American society. Over the following years, more and more schools for physically disabled students were opened in America, including the American School for the Blind. -
Volta Bureau
Alexander Graham Bell founded the Volta Bureau in 1887, dedicated to teaching oral language to people who are deaf or hard of hearing. The teachings included lip reading. Bell was influenced by his mother and Wife, who were hard of hearing and deaf. Despite Bell’s mother's hard hearing issues, she enjoyed music by feeling the beats from the ground. -
Cuyahoga Council for Disabled Citizens
The efforts of advocacy groups came to fruition in 1933 with the founding of the Cuyahoga Council of mentally disabled citizens. A few parents from Ohio came to protest the exclusion of their disabled children from joining public education. The government agreed to have a special needs class with the sponsorship of the parents. -
The Brown V. Board of Education
The Brown V. Board of Education of May 17, 1954, heralded the expansion of education rights to all children. Despite the litigation being purely racial, where Brown’s child had been prohibited from joining an all-white public school, researchers argue that the litigation, which was ruled in favor of Brown, paved the way to end all forms of discrimination in public schools. Also, it laid a foundation for the 1975 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Video: https://youtu.be/g41X6_XY1rQ -
Panel on Mental Retardation
President John F. Kennedy established the President's Panel on Mental Retardation in 1961. The panel's focus was to combat mental retardation in the country. According to President Kennedy, the country had abandoned the mentally ill and the mentally disabled, and it was the nation’s duty to end discrimination. In 1962, the panel came up with recommendations regarding mental retardation, including improved education, preventive procedures, enhance services, programs, and more. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
The Elementary and secondary school act of 1965 was passed to increase funding to public schools and enhance education equality. The main target of the Act was students from poor backgrounds, especially Native Americans, English-speaking limited families, and people experiencing homelessness. The funds were to provide learning materials, promote professional growth, and encourage parental engagement. -
Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children V. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
In this case, it was argued that special needs students should be enrolled in publicly funded educational facilities managed by state agencies. According to their reasoning, students like these ought to be put in classrooms that can meet their educational needs after an appropriate evaluation. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act (Public Law 94-142)
In November 1965, President Gerald Ford signed the Education for All the Handicapped Children Act into law. According to EAHCA, every disabled kid nationwide should receive a free and appropriate education. The law was an amendment to the 1970 Education of the Handicapped. Additional Information Website: https://sites.ed.gov/idea/IDEA-History -
National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)
Tis non-profit organization aids by safeguarding against abuse, ensuring accountability, and advocating for fundamental rights in several systems, including education, health care, housing, employment, transportation, and within the criminal justice and juvenile systems, CAPs and P&As work to boost people’s lives for those with disabilities. The network remains the principal supplier of legally based advocacy services for disabled persons the U.S. collectively . -
Americans with Disabilites Act
President George W. Bush signed a law guaranteeing equal rights for all individuals with special needs. The enactment of this important piece of legislation has made it possible for Americans with disabilities to participate fully in our society. It was further established that special needs individuals cannot be discriminated against. -
Changes to (IDEA)
By identifying children with disabilities before they join school and providing supports, President Clinton's modifications to the Act improved the education of children with disabilities. Create IEPs that are centered on enhancing academic performance, educating children with disabilities alongside their counterparts without disabilities, raising expectations for kids with disabilities, and etc. Video: https://youtu.be/66g6TbJbs2g