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American School for the Deaf founded
The American School for the Deaf was the first school for children with disabilities in the Western Hemisphere. The school was founded by Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, Dr. Mason Cogswell, and Laurent Clerc in Hartford, Connecticut. The school taught students American Sign Language which was derived from the methodical signs and Persian Sign Language used by the French Institute for the Deaf. -
Education Act, 1840
In 1840, Rhode Island passed the Education Act mandating compulsory education for all children. This act ensured all children under age 12 would attend school at least three months a year. This law was influential for special education, because it prevented children with special needs from being deprived of education.
Transcription of Rhode Island's Education Act -
Beattie vs Board of Education of Antigo
In this case, The Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld that students could not be excluded from education based on a disability. This suit came about after a student, Merritt Beattie, was expelled from regular school due to his disabilities being determined as disruptiveness. Merritt suffered from a condition that prevented him from having typical use of his body and caused him to drool uncontrollably. Teachers and peers found his condition to be distressing and disruptive, which led to his expulsion. -
Council for Exceptional Children
The CEC was founded by a group of educators looking for ways to help students with disabilities. The goals of this group were to unite people with interest in educational problems relevant to special education students, place emphasis on the education of special education students, and establish professional standards for educators in the special education field. The CEC is still running and is a non-profit advocating for special education professionals and the needs of exceptional students. -
Brown v Board of Education Ruling
In the Brown v Board of Education case, the United States Supreme Court decided that it is unconstitutional for educational institutions to segregate based on race. This ruling was the first significant case to influence special education because it helped grow an understanding of the importance of public education for all, regardless of race, gender, or disability. This case opened the door to the fight for rights to public education for students of all abilities, races, and genders. -
PARC vs Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
In this case, the Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Citizens sued the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the right to free public education for children with intellectual disabilities. This case was one of the first to establish that children with intellectual disabilities deserve the same access to education as other children. PARC paved the way for the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, later known as IDEA. -
Mills v Board of Education of District of Columbia
In this case, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia held that children could not be denied a public education, regardless of any "mental, behavioral, physical, or emotional handicaps or deficiencies". This case also determined that the denial of education can't be excused by any claim of insufficient funding. This means schools needed to expend funds equitably so that no child is excluded from a public education. -
IDEA Act
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act made free, appropriate public education available to children with disabilities. This act ensured special education and services relevant to the children's disabilities. IDEA gave students access to an individualized education plan, guaranteed placement in the least restrictive environment possible, and procedural safeguards.
IDEA: History and Summary -
Americans with Disabilities Act
The ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. This includes in the workplace, schools, public accommodations, and access to state/local government programs. This act ensures that qualified disabled students have equal opportunities as other students and has played a crucial role in expanding students protection against discrimination in education. -
No Child Left Behind Act
The NCLB Act put focus on ensuring that schools boost the performance of students in special education, English-language learners, and poor and minority children. This act had schools track yearly progress of their students and keep all students at a proficient level. The NCLB Act led to a significant improvement in the percentage of students with disabilities graduating with a standard high school diploma.