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Founding of the American School for the Deaf
The first school for children with disabilities in the U.S was established by Thomas Hopkins, Laurent Clerk and Mason Cogswell in Hartford Connecticut. Its creation emphasized the importance of specialized educational approaches and influenced other institutions as well as advocacy for people with disabilities, particularly those who were dead or hard of hearing -
The Council for Exceptional Children
The CEC, among the earliest professional organizations focused on enhancing education for individuals with disabilities, was instrumental in developing specialized teaching strategies, providing educator training, and advocating for policies that support inclusive education.
https://exceptionalchildren.org/ -
Brown V. Board of Education
This Supreme Court case decided racial segregation in Public Schools is unconstitutional. This case started a wider discussion on inclusive education by going against the exclusions and isolating practices present in schools, and advocated for students to receive equal opportunities in education regardless of their race. -
PARC V Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
This court case helped secure rights for intellectually disabled children, establishing that students with disabilities cannot be denied free public education. -
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
This law prohibits discrimination towards people with disabilities who are enrolled in programs that are receiving federal funding. It also allows for a more accessible approach to combining students with disabilities with non disabled students in the classroom setting. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act
This act also known as the EAHCA requires that all public schools give the correct education to students with disabilities for no charge.
https://youtu.be/rgwstMsPvd4 -
The Individualized Education Program
This program was introduced with the passing of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. It is "a written plan that outlines a child's education, services, and supplementary aids." -
The Americans with Disabilities Act
This law safeguarded individuals with disabilities from discrimination in various public domains, including education. It promoted inclusion by ensuring schools and extracurricular programs were accessible to everyone. -
No Child Left Behind Act
This law emphasized the importance of academic accountability for every student, including those with disabilities. It encouraged inclusive practices by integrating students into general education settings and ensuring they benefited from the same curriculum as their peers. -
Endrew F. V Douglas County School District
This Supreme Court ruling set higher expectations for the quality of education provided under IDEA, requiring schools to deliver programs that enable students with disabilities to achieve significant progress and support their integration into inclusive environments.