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First American School for the Blind
The Perkins School for the Blind was established in 1829 in Boston, Massachusetts. This school became the first school in the United States to provide education for individuals with visual experiments. The school gave children who were blind the opportunity to be properly educated. The Perkins School set a precedent for future special education institutions. -
Establishment of the Council for Exceptional Children
The Council for Exceptional Children was formed in 1922 by a group of educators attending the summer session at Columbia University. The aim of the council was to advance the education and welfare of children who have exceptionalities. In addition, they wanted to define and promote special education as a profession. The organization also advocated for the rights of students with disabilities and promoted research for special education. -
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education was a landmark Supreme Court Case in 1954 that ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. This case had significant implications for special education as it served as a legal precedent of challenging practices in public education that are discriminatory. These discriminatory practices extend to students with disabilities. -
Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia
Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia was a landmark case that ruled in favor that no child could be denied a public education. This meant that regardless of the severity of their disability, every child had the right to free and appropriate public education. Following this case, students with disabilities were able to have access to quality education regardless of the additional cost of accommodations for the school.Timetoast -
Introduction of the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
The principles of Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) were first introduced in the law Education for all Handicapped Children Act. LRE emphasizes that students with disabilities should be educated to the maximum extent possible alongside their typically developing peers. This means that children with disabilities, when appropriate, should be placed in a general education classroom or included in activities that their typically developing peers are. LRE promotes social inclusion and interaction. -
Passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was enacted in July of 1990. This act prohibited discrimination of individuals with disabilities in public, daily life. This includes prohibiting employment and transportation discrimination. The ADA promotes inclusive practices as well as accessibility in education. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Following the Americans with Disabilities Act came the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).The law reauthorized and expanded the rights and protections that were previously provided in The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (1975). IDEA emphasizes the importance of individualized education plans (IEPs), parental involvement, inclusive practices, and accommodative public education. Timetoast -
Introduction to the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Framework
The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Framework was introduced as a method to ensure that education was accessible for students with diverse learning needs. UDL promotes providing information and content in various ways, providing students with different ways to express what they know, and providing multiple means for student engagement. UDL is practiced to this day as a means to accommodate the variability of learners within the classroom. -
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act Signed into Law
The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) act was signed into law in 2002. This law ensures that all students, including those from low-income households, had access to education that adopts national academic standards. The law aimed to improve the outcome of all students including those with disabilities. The law also outlined standards, accountability principles, and opportunities for school choice. -
Introduction to the Response to Intervention (RTI) Framework
In 2004, the Response to Intervention (RTI) framework supports the idea that students with disabilities should receive high-quality education. The framework involves a multi-tiered system of interventions. The interventions provide students with targeted support that meets their individual needs. RTI supports placing children in least restrictive environments. RTI also assists in identifying learning challenges of students early in their education career.