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American School for the Deaf
I chose to start my timeline since this was the first-ever school opened for disabled children in the western hemisphere and it is located in the state of Connecticut which is where I currently reside. This school was opened in 1817 founded by Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc. It is exclusively the first deaf students and was the first permanent school for the deaf at the time. Link text -
The First Special Education Class
This class was taught by Elizabeth Farrel in New York City and was made up of 19 students, 12 of these students were diagnosed with mental disabilities. She taught at Public School NO 1. She was later appointed director of the Special Education Program and then went on to become one of the founders and first president of the International Council for Exceptional Children. -
Council for Exceptional Children
The council of exceptional children was the first advocacy group for children with disabilities. It was organized by a group of administrators and faculty members at Columbia University from the Teachers College. Their mission is to advocate for disabled children by promoting legislation that supports special education. -
Department of Special Education
This law required the teaching of atypical children. Special education classes and programs began with this law. -
National Associated of Retarded Citizens
This association was actually formed by 23 separate advocacy groups who decided to come together to fight for the same cause. Their mission is to serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by helping with litigation and seeing that critical precedents through the judicial process are met. -
Rehabilitation Act of 1973
This act prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs conducted by federal agencies. This act was made to make sure that persons with disabilities had access to everything as able-bodied people would by taking away any architectural, transportation, or employment barriers. -
Public Law 94-142
This law was made so that each child with special needs is guaranteed a free appropriate public education. The law was put into place to improve the quality of education for exceptional students throughout the country. Prior to the law millions of children were excluded from the public education system and the ones who weren't were only granted limited access to education. -
Americans With Disabilities Act
This act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in regards to transportation, employment, public accommodations, and access to state and local government programs and services.
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No Child Left Behind Act
The No Child Left Behind Act was put into place to hold schools accountable for the success of their students. This act ensured that schools were to be held accountable for the academic progress of all of their students, especially groups of students that needed a performance boost. These groups included English-language learners, special education students, and minority students. -
Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Act
This act added and made changes to the previous Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The act was made to call for more accountability in schools, provide more flexibility, and enhance the involvement of parents.