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The American School for the Deaf
The history of special education dates back to the 1800s. The American School for the Deaf, the first school for students with disabilities, opened its doors in 1817. The establishment of this school cleared the path for the education of individuals with various disabilities. -
Gallaudett University
In 1864 The Columbia Institution for the Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind created Gallaudet University, allowing persons who are deaf, blind, or mute an opportunity at a higher education. Gallaudet remains the only university committed to serving the needs of the deaf, blind, and mute communities.
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Cuyahoga Council for Retarded Citizens
Special education was still falling short of expectations. Parental voices of students with disabilities began to emerge. The "Cuyahoga Council for Retarded Citizens" was established in 1933. This organization, the first of its sort to be founded, was successful in standing up for its ideals. Five mothers of children with mental disabilities came together to protest their children’s exclusion from public schools. As a result, a special class for the kids was created. -
Brown v. Board of Education
The Supreme Court declared in 1954 that school segregation was unconstitutional in response to student protests that segregated classrooms were fundamentally unfair. This included children with disabilities, which made parents fight even harder for their kids. -
Elementary & Secondary Education Act
This law, which increased government funding for education, was passed in 1965. Additionally, it supplied tools to guarantee that underprivileged pupils received a top-notch education. More families could now afford to give their kids the education they so richly deserved. -
PARC v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Courts
Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children (PARC) v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Courts was a case that was heard in 1971. The ruling stated that students with disabilities were to be placed in publicly funded school settings that met their individual educational needs, based on a proper and thorough evaluation. -
Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia
The D.C. Board of Education was not allowed to deny people with disabilities access to publicly financed educational opportunities as a result of this verdict. This informed school districts across the country that any kid expelled without following the proper procedures would not be permitted. -
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act
This law mandated that all public schools that accept federal funding give students with disabilities of all kinds equal access to education. Including instruction that was appropriate for them with an IEP (Individualized instruction Plan). -
Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act replaced The Education for All Handicapped Children's Act. Numerous changes were made to guarantee that every student had access to the same curriculum and assistance with the transition from high school to adulthood. Giving kids access to the same curriculum as peers without disabilities and placing them in the least restrictive setting was also added to this law.
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Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA)
The IDEA was updated by Congress to include provisions for early student intervention, increased accountability, and better educational outcomes. It also strengthened standards for special education teachers. More special education training for general education instructors was also included to ensure that more students achieve in the least restrictive setting. This strengthened the law to ensure that students with impairments have the same chances as their peers.