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1829: Perkins School for the Blind
One of the first disabled schools in the US focused on teaching blind students, Perkins School for the Blind, which opened in 1829. It helped blind students acquire the skills required for daily life by providing an education adapted to their unique needs. This proved that children with vision problems can still obtain a quality education and set an example for other educational institutions. -
1876/1904: The American Association on Mental Deficiency
The American Association on Mental Deficiency was founded in 1876. It was mainly on supporting people with mental disabilities and worked to improve the education of people struggling with those disabilities. This association supported their rights and strived to get better assistance, it helped raise awareness and pushed for better educational practices too. -
1965: Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act was a law passed in 1965. It gave extra funding to schools to better the education of disadvantaged and disabled students. It gave schools more resources so they had a fair chance to succeed and helped make sure students with disabilities had better access to quality education. -
1975: Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA)
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act was passed in 1975. This law was passed to make sure public schools gave free education to children with disabilities and so all children could learn suited to their needs. The law was placed to support disabilities, promoting equality. Timetoast -
1982: Board of Education of the Hendrick Hudson Central School District v. Rowley
The 1982 Supreme Court case helped define how schools should meet the educational needs of students with disabilities. It clarified what public education means under the EAHCA setting clear standards for what is appropriate. This update helped make sure it was clear what the rights of students with disabilities are and how schools should support them. -
1990: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
In 1990, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act was renamed as Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. IDEA introduced new requirements like Individualized Education Programs and stated that students with disabilities should be included in general classrooms. This improved special education by having schools create customized learning plans and allowing all different types of students in a classroom no matter the disability if possible. -
2001: No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 was passed to require standardized testing for all students including the ones with disabilities. This law was to make sure all students were able to meet academic standards and have proof of a fair education. This helped bring attention to how well the students were learning and pushed for schools to make sure they were learning effectively. Timetoast -
2008: National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER)
In 2008, the National Center for Special Education Research was created to improve special education teaching and practices. It turned out well as it provided important information strategies to help schools better support students with disabilities. This research center helped gather new effective ways to improve the quality education for students with disabilities. -
2015: Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
The Every Student Succeeds Act was the replacement of the No Child Left Behind Act passed in 2015. This act was placed to give states more control over educational standards. With the goal of still supporting disabled students, ESSA allowed states to set their own goals for student achievement. This gave more flexibility to better help students with disabilities succeed. -
2020: American Rescue Plan Act
The American Rescue Plan Act passed in 2020. During the COVID -19 pandemic, this act provided funding for schools to help with the challenges being faced. Lots of financial support was given to schools to help students with disabilities get the resources and support they needed. Due to the online learning environment during the pandemic, this ensured that students with disabilities continued to receive educational help.