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First Federal Law affecting Disabilities
Congress passed the first federal law past concerning the care of peoples with disabilities. This was the first federal laws created to assist individuals with disabilities. The law gave authorization to provide medical services to sick and disabled seamen at a hospital in Maine. Students with disabilities were sent to special schools. It wasn’t until much later, when students with disabilities started receiving proper education and not have to go to special schools. -
First public school class for hearing impairments
The first public school class for children with hearing impairments was opened in Boston. The Horace Mann School for the Deaf was one of the first public schools for the deaf. The school was established with the intention of provide quality education for students who are deaf. If it wasn’t for this school, students who were deaf would not have had a school to attend. This school was important in opening doors for students with disabilities. -
First public school class disabilities
For years, students with disabilities were treated like something was wrong with them. They were considered “backwards” and “feeble-minded.” In 1896, Rhode Island opened the first public school class for students with disabilities in the U.S. This opening gave students with disabilities a chance to receive education without being treated like they had a disease. This class was far from special education classes today, but it made openings for better. -
CEC created
A group of administrators and supervisors and their faculty members met at Columbia University. The Council was organized, began with 12 members. This organization later would become the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). It aimed to establish standards in special education as a profession. The organization has and continues to use a research-based process to make sure that the standards reflects the knowledge and skills special educators must achieve, and are current and research-based. -
Brown v. Board of Education Topeka
Racial segregation of children in public schools was unconstitutional. This helped to push the civil rights movement and assisted in removing “separate-but-equal” education and other services were. It led to a better understanding that all people regardless of race, disability, or gender, have the right to a public education. It also introduced the idea of integration in public schools and free and equal education. https://www.britannica.com/event/Brown-v-Board-of-Education-of-Topeka -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
One of the most important U.S. law on civil rights. It is a U.S. legislation intended to put an end to discrimination due to race, color, religion, or more. People with disabilities and their families were inspired by the Civil Rights Movement, that brought in an era of self-advocacy and protest. This act led to the beginning of equal rights in education. -
PARC v. Pennyslvania
Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children (PARC) fought until it was ruled that the state of Pennsylvania could no longer deny free public education or programs to students with disabilities. The state will provide a free public education to all children between the ages of six and twenty-one years. The education and training provided must be sufficient for all students with disabilities. This decision made others want to fight for equality for all students with disabilities. -
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
The first disability civil rights law enacted. It led the way for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It prohibited programs that receive federal financial assistance from discriminating against people with disabilities. It requires that qualified students who have a physical or mental impairment limiting one or more major life activities, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability be provided with a free appropriate public education (FAPE). It will be revised in 1986. -
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act
This law protected the rights of students with disabilities and ensured that their needs were met. It changed its name to Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1990. It was amended in 1997, and again in 2004. It aimed for students with disabilities to receive specialized education and services, and the rights of them and their family to be protected. IDEA is the special education law of the nation granting FAPE, LRE, and more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66g6TbJbs2g -
Americans with Disabilities Act
This is a civil rights law prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities when it comes to jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places open to the public. The law sought to ensure that people with disabilities have equal rights and opportunities like everyone else. ADA grants civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities in the same way provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. Acommodations given. -
No Child Left Behind Act
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) was a law for K–12 general education in the United States. It held schools accountable for students’ academics as assessed by standardized testing. This law was changed to Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in 2015. It has a commitment to equal opportunity for all students. ESSA ensures equality in education for all students, required that all students be taught at a high academic standard, accountability, and trainings/ resources be available to teachers.
