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Jean Marc Gaspard Itard and Victor
Jean Marc Gaspard Itard heard of and decided to work with Victor, the “wild boy of Aveyron,” who reportedly was raised by wolves and lived in the woods. Based on Itard’s documents, Victor likely had severe mental retardation. Ultimately, Itard did not “normalize” Victor to the extent he hoped, but their time together proved that mentally disabled persons could improve through education. Video explaining their story and the social climate of that era -
First American Deaf School
Reverend Thomas Gallaudet founded the American Asylum for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb in Hartford, Connecticut. This school marks the first permanent special education school in American history. Now called the American School for the Deaf, it continues to educate Deaf individuals to this day! -
Samuel Gridley Howe's School
Samuel Gridley Howe established the Massachusetts School for Idiotic and Feeble-Minded Youth. Dr. Howe also founded the first American school for blind children, the Perkins School for the Blind prior, in 1829. He wanted his schools to help children with disabilities live and thrive within their society. Website explaining Howe’s perspective in more detail. -
Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Established
The International Council for the Education of Exceptional Children was founded by Elizabeth Farrell and a group of administrators, supervisors, and faculty of Teachers College, Columbia University. In 1958, this organization was renamed the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). CEC was vital in rallying support for The Education For All Handicapped Children Act in 1975. Website explaining the history of CEC in more detail. -
Brown v. Board of Education
In the case of Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court ruled that school segregation based on race was unconstitutional. This decision paved the way for future legislation in favor of individuals with disabilities because it ruled in favor of advocacy for students who experience inequality in schools. Emboldened by this case, parents of students with disabilities began to sue school districts for segregating or completely excluding their children because of their disabilities. -
PARC v. Pennsylvania
The case Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children (PARC) v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania dealt with children with disabilities and their right to free and appropriate public education. Now, children could no longer be denied public education because of their disability and instead provided instruction in the Least Restrictive Alternative (which would later become Least Restrictive Environment). The following year, Mills v. District of Columbia Board of Education reinforced these rulings. -
EAHCA Signed
On this date, President Gerald Ford signed into law The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA). This act required school districts to provide all students with disabilities free and appropriate education in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) and non-discriminatory testing, evaluation, and placement. Furthermore, students with disabilities received the right to due process and an Individualized Education Program (IEP). -
IDEA Signed
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, effectively expanded and replaced EAHCA. IDEA further developed provisions for due process, confidentiality, and special education services. Furthermore, IDEA added classification categories for autism and traumatic brain injury while changing the language to person-first. For example, “handicapped student” was replaced with “student with disabilities.” -
IDEA Reauthorized
IDEA was reauthorized and amended to require that students with disabilities receive appropriate services even if expelled and be included in state and districtwide assessments. Furthermore, IEP plans were expanded to include behavioral plans (if needed) and allow general education teachers onto IEP teams. Additionally, this amended act also emphasized access to general education curricula. -
IDEIA Signed
IDEA was again reauthorized and amended by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, IDEIA. This act sought to better meet student needs by offering early intervention services for children not identified as needing special education but requiring additional support. Furthermore, IDEIA also raised the standards for special education instructors.