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First School for Special Ed.
The American Asylum For The Education And Instruction Of The Deaf And Dumb (now the American School for the Deaf) was the first school for children with disabilities in the western hemisphere. This school of special education was founded by Thomas Gallaudet in Hartford, CT and is still around today. This institution was the first to educate students with special needs, such as being deaf and mute, in the United States and was a safe place for these children to learn despite their disability. -
Council for Exceptional Children
This organization was founded by Elizabeth Farrell and a group of educators during a session at Columbia University’s Teachers College. The CEC is “dedicated to improving the success of children and youth with disabilities and/or gifts and talents.” They are one of the first and largest organizations to advocate for the special education of children through government policies, professional standards, etc. -
The Arc
The Arc, originally NARC, was founded by a group of parents in the 1950s to advocate for the research and development of intellectual disabilities because there was very little known at the time. These people refused to accept that institutionalizing their loved ones with disabilities was the only option. The Arc became the first organization to invest money in research for intellectual disabilities and has been prominent in pushing for legislation on behalf of those with disabilities. -
Brown v. Board of Education
This landmark Supreme Court case declared that the “separate but equal” clause was unconstitutional. Schools must now be desegregated and there should not be separate facilities based on race because it violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. This decision would then be used as the constitutional foundation for disability rights in education even though it would take time for action. -
Rehabilitation Act, Section 504
Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act was the first to provide civil rights for disabilities. It protected people with disabilities from discrimination in programs that received federal financial assistance, including public schools. Therefore, all children and adults with disabilities could not be discriminated or treated unfairly against in schools, etc. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act
This act ensured children with disabilities an equal access to education from public schools accepting federal funds. It guaranteed that children with disabilities would have access to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE). Now, millions of children with disabilities would receive an education in an environment that was least restrictive, meaning that they would receive education to the maximum extent appropriate with non-disabled kids. -
Handicap Children's Protection Act
The Handicapped Children's Protection Act builds upon the EAHCA of 1975 because it adds a portion about legal costs for parents who file and prevail in a lawsuit regarding that law. It also emphasizes that parents of children with disabilities are allowed participation in their child’s education through the Individualized Education Program (IEP). Parents must be informed of any decisions made in their child’s education. -
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
This act signed into law by President George H.W. Bush is a major civil rights law that protects all Americans with disabilities from any discrimination in public, such as in schools, jobs, transportation, etc. This law is similar to the civil protections provided to people on the basis of race, sex, etc. Now, all children with disabilities cannot be discriminated against in schools and must have proper accommodations. Link: ADA -
Indiv. with Disabilities Ed. Act (IDEA)
This act was known as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act until it was changed when Congress reauthorized it in 1990. The main goal of IDEA was to provide equal opportunities for children with disabilities, expanding upon the previous act. It is composed of six elements: Individualized Education Program (IEP), Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), Appropriate Evaluation, Parent and Teacher Participation, and Procedural Safeguards. -
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
Signed by President George W. Bush, this law would outline specific steps and actions that schools needed to take to reach reading and math proficiency by 2014. These proficiency levels would be assessed and reported, with consequences for schools that failed to achieve these goals. Many criticized this law because of its lack of regard for special education by including them with those of limited proficiency. This would soon lead to revisions in 2003 for testing special education students. -
Every Student Succeeds Act
This law was signed by President Obama to replace NCLB. The purpose of this act was to provide a fair and equitable education to all children while closing achievement gaps. However, the law now moved accountability to the States. The role of the federal government over education was reduced and special education would now be able to create their own opportunities and make their own decisions because of the more local authority they are under. Video: ESSA
