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Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb
This was the first school opened to children with disabilities. When reading the name of the school it might sound offensive but during that time the word "dumb" meant "unable to speak." During this time, Individuals who were deaf never learned how to speak with others aside from signs made at home. These individuals were also regularly viewed as intellectually impaired. The school began due to parents advocating the importance of education for their children that are deaf. -
CEC advocacy group
The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is an association that is viewed as the main support aggregate for children with disabilities. They began this organization in 1922 out of New York City at Columbia University. CEC is one of the biggest special education advocacy groups. The CEC focus is to improving the quality of education to individuals with disabilities and/or gifts.
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Willowbrook State School
Willowbrook State School was created to support children with intellectual disabilities. It was located in New York and held over 6,000 individuals. This school was the largest institution for children with intellectual disabilities in the United States. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) provided equal access to education for all students, no mater their ability, disability of economic states. This act provided federal funding for both primary and secondary education for students. ESEA also mentions funding educational programs and services for individuals with disabilities, even when school was not in session in isolated or rural areas. -
Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was the first right-to-education suit in the country. This case quickly settled in U.S. District Court and resulted in the state agreeing to provide a free public education for children with intellectual disabilities. -
Handicapped Children’s Protection Act Public Law 99-457
President Ronald Reagan signed the Handicapped Children's Protection Act, a law that gave guardians of children with a disability more say in the improvement of their child individual Education Plan (IEP).The act also provides procedural safeguards for parents so when decisions are made regarding the child, the guardians are informed of their rights and dual process. -
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act Public Law 101-476
Public Law 101-476 made significant changes to the previous act. Some of the changes are adding traumatic brain injury and autism to the list of disabilities. The act also included that congress required that the student’s IEP include individual transition plan and aid in developing transition goals and skills for post-secondary life. -
The Americans with Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law that forbids discrimination among individuals with disabilities in obtaining employment, access to transportation, public accommodation, communications, and governmental activities. ADA provides individuals with disabilities the same opportunities as everyone else by making places (like businesses and schools) accessible and prohibits discrimination. -
No Child Left Behind Act
No Child Left Behind Act was a reform on the way we educate students with or without special needs. This act created standards of proficiency in math, reading, and science for all children, ability or disability. It also required teachers to become highly qualified within their subject area they are instructing.
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The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004
IDEA allows children with disabilities to have the opportunity to receive a free appropriate public education, just like other children, without bias and open communication between parents, school and child. IDEA also supports students with disabilities being placed in the leased restricted environment (LRE) with the appropriate supports to facilitate and advance academic and social learning.
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