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Edward Seguin
Seguin believed that children with disabilities could be trained to become productive members of society. He started a study that included creating a structured learning environment that payed close attention to the children's developing senses, learning basic academic skills and doing frequent physical activity. He used positive rewards and this showed the impact of using positive rewards on exceptional children. Some of his ideas are still essential in special education today -
The First Public School Education Class
The first public school education class was in 1875. This was only 149 years ago. Looking at what tools children with exceptionalities had to help them learn then compared to what children with exceptionalities have now is completely different. -
Council for Exceptional Children
The Council for Exceptional Children was founded in 1922. This council is still going today. The council does a lot of different things such as advocating for education professionals, advancing scholarly research, and fighting for diversity and inclusiveness. -
Brown V. Board of Education
This opened the doors to allow children of color and children with disabilities to be in the same schools and classes of white children. Separate cannot be equal, meaning you cant separate the children and expect them to feel equal or even receive an equal level of education. -
Samuel A. Kirk
In the year 1963 Samuel Kirk introduced the term learning disabilities. This term is now used daily when it comes to talking about special education. -
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
504 in a way is like a bridge between special education and general education. If a child doesn't qualify for special education but is not doing well in general education they might get a 504 plan to help the student in school. ADHD students will often have a 504 plan that allows them extra time on test or maybe somebody reading the test to them. -
P.L. 94-142 Education of the Handicapped Act
This was one of the first laws for special education. This law contained many of the issues that were being addressed in courts, it funded efforts to find children with disabilities who weren't in school, and mandated states follow the law to receive federal funding. -
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
ADA replaced Section 504 while also improving certain parts. -
No Child Left Behind Act
In 2003 the No Child Left Behind Act increased accountability in schools so all students will have hopefully the same or similar outcomes whenever getting done with schooling. This act also made sure that all teachers were highly qualified implementing the college programs for teachers like how they are today. -
IDEA Individuals with Disabilities Act
This is a revised edition of P.L. 94-142. IDEA helps more than just K-12 special education students. It also helps infants and toddlers as well as secondary school students. IDEA is based off of six principles to help students and families. Those principles are zero reject, free appropriate public education, least restrictive environment, nondiscriminatory evaluation, parent and family rights to confidentiality, and procedural safeguards.