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American School for the Deaf
In the year 1817, the American Asylum for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons was founded in Hartford, Connecticut. This school marked a historic milestone as the inauguration of this school in the United States was committed to educating students with hearing impairments. Therefore, creating a pathway for the future of specialized education. -
Mills v. Board of Education
This court case ruling, "Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia", decided that schools could not say "no" to students with disabilities. They had to ensure that all students received the right kind of education and support that they needed free of cost. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act Enacted
The EAHCA was a law signed by President Gerald Ford which mandated a free and appropriate education for every child including those with disabilities. This law highlighted the importance of giving special education services in the most inclusive setting possible. Education for All Handicapped Children Act -
A Nation At Risk Report
The report talked about worries regarding how good our education is in the United States. Even though it didn't focus only on special education, it had a big impact on the rules and talks about education all across the country, including things related to students with disabilities. -
The Regular Education Initiative
Madeline C. Will, a former assistant secretary of education, introduced the Regular Education Initiative which proposed to encourage regular teachers to take on more responsibility in educating students with special needs. The idea was to make regular classrooms more inclusive by practicing mainstreaming, which meant placing students with disabilities right along with their peers in regular academic settings. -
American Disabilities Act
The ADA made it against the rules to treat people with disabilities unfairly in all part of public life, including schools. This law played a big role in making sure that schools were made in a way that everyone could use them and it helped to also get rid of things that made it hard for people with disabilities to learn.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) -
No Child Left Behind Act
This act signed by President Bush ensured that every student, including those with disabilities, received a good education. It mentioned that students should take tests and be held to the same standards as everyone else in the state. This way the schools had to make sure that everyone, no matter their abilities, had a chance to learn well. -
ADA Amendments Act
The ADAAA made the ADA rules stronger. It mentioned that more people could be protected under the ADA as having a disability. This change was to make sure that in places like schools, everyone, no matter their abilities, would get the right support and be treated fairly. -
Every Student Succeeds Act
The ESSA replaced the "No Child Left Behind Act". It was signed by President Obama and it promised that it would include all students, including those with disabilities, in education. ESSA gave states more freedom in creating their own plans for holding schools accountable. It also said that students with disabilities should be a part of the regular tests to ensure everyone gets a fair chance to learn. -
Covid-19 Pandemic Impact
The Covid-19 pandemic forced teachers switch to online learning extremely fast. This change was sudden and very difficult for all students, especially those with disabilities. This demonstrated that we need new and inclusive ways of teaching to make sure everyone can learn well, no matter where they are or the circumstance.
How COVID-19 Has Affected Special Education Students