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Before the 1800s
Individuals with disabilities in the United States were often devalued and considered incomplete humans. Philosophers believed that these individuals lacked intellect, leading to a reduction in their humanity. As a result, people with disabilities faced exploitation, including abandonment in orphanages, exclusion from everyday life, public display in circuses and sideshows, societal expulsion, and even execution in some instances. -
In the Early 1800s
The Connecticut Asylum, led by Thomas Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc, pioneered formal education for deaf individuals in 1817, laying the foundation for Gallaudet University. However, deafness was viewed as a condition needing treatment, including various medical interventions. Sam Gridley Howe initiated educational reform for the blind in 1834, founding the Perkins Institution. The success of these programs inspired educational applications for individuals with other disabilities. -
Late 1800s
By 1860, on the brink of the Civil War, debates on race and America's genetic makeup were intense. The Industrial Revolution's decline in the need for skilled workers led to a parallel setback in the rights and educational opportunities for individuals with disabilities. School attendance laws segregated students with disabilities into isolated classrooms, fearing their influence on non-disabled children. -
Darwin's On the Origin of Species
strengthened the eugenics movement, focusing on purposeful reproduction for the fit and exclusion of the unfit, including individuals with disabilities. This belief, coupled with the idea that nature was more important than nurture, led to marriage restriction laws and sterilization practices, often without consent. The rationale behind sterilization was influenced by the misguided association of disability with a lack of intellect. -
In the 1950s
Court cases significantly influenced the treatment of students with disabilities in schools. The pivotal case was Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954), which overturned Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and declared segregation unconstitutional. This led to the transformation of racially segregated schools and public facilities into integrated ones. Thurgood Marshall presented the case to the United States Supreme Court, later becoming the first African-American to serve on the Supreme Court. -
The Architectural Barriers Act (ABA)
mandates access for people with disabilities in Federal buildings, covering construction, renovation, and design. This applies to various facilities such as schools, public housing, public transportation, post offices, Veterans Affairs medical facilities, national parks, Social Security Administration offices, Federal office buildings, U.S. courthouses, and Federal prisons. The ABA details accessibility aspects, ranging from ramps to restrooms, ensuring comprehensive accommodation. -
The Rehabilitation Act
prohibits discrimination in federally funded programs. It extends and revises state grants for vocational rehabilitation services, focusing on severe disabilities. The Act broadens federal responsibilities, research, and education programs, outlining duties for the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. Section 504 within the Act prevents discrimination based on a student's disabling condition, mandating schools to provide comparable accommodations to disabled students. -
The Education for All Handicapped Children
Disabilities, including learning disabilities, emotional disturbance, and developmental delay, are recognized by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), distinguishing between low and high-incidence disabilities. Compliance with IDEA is crucial for schools to receive funding, and failure to adhere to special education laws may lead to funding withdrawal by the government. [Youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66g6TbJbs2g -
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
safeguards individuals with disabilities from discrimination in workplaces, schools, and other environments. It mandates employers and educational institutions to provide reasonable accommodations, adapting existing facilities to ensure accessibility for individuals with disabilities. -
The Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA)
was passed to aid students with intellectual disabilities. It provides opportunities for grants and Federal work-study programs. It previously kept students with disabilities from attending an institution of post-secondary education. Although these programs are often certificate and non-degree-granting, they offer opportunities for socialization and real-life experience that students with disabilities often crave.