History of Special Education and Inclusive Education

By a1egna

  • First Public School for Disabilities Opened

    Charles Michel L'Epee opened the first public school for the deaf in Paris. It was known as the Institution Nationale des sourds-muets de Paris, or National Deaf-Dumb Institute of Paris. L'Epee's main focus was teaching language and phonetics, and his school opening made way for many other schools to be opened throughout the world for varying disabilities.

  • 14th Amendment Passed

    This amendment mainly grants citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the U.S. However, it also state that no state can deny equal protection of the laws to anyone within its jurisdiction. Children with disabilities have been denied equal protection in many aspects including education, and this amendment allowed for many changes to be made to give these children equal opportunities.

  • Brown vs. Board of Education

    Youtube Brown vs. Board of Education Explained
    This Supreme Court case ruled that segregated schools on the basis of race are unconstitutional. This furthered the basis that segregation in schools in any basis including disability is unconstitutional. This case allowed others to make lawsuits for excluding children with disabilities.

  • Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)

    U.S. Department of Education
    This act provides resources for children with do not receive as many opportunities. It includes a grant program to assist children with disabilities and ensure they have a proper education. This program was replaced with the Education of the Handicapped Act.

  • PARC Case

    The Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children vs. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania fought for children with disabilities to have the right to a free and public education (FAPE). Educational placement decisions must now include parent involvement as well as the right to due process. This case led to 37 other cases following facing similar issues with the education of children with disabilities.

  • Mills Case

    Mills vs. Board of Education of District of Columbia fought against suspending, expelling, and excluding children with disabilities without due process of law. These actions were mainly taking place due to insufficient funding and administrative inefficiency to educate these students. This case also reinforces the ideas of the PARC case of children with disabilities having the right to a free and public education (FAPE).

  • Rehabilitation Act of 1973

    Section 504 under this act protects students from discrimination within education. The goal is to give students with disabilities equal access in education as non-disabled students. It ensures that students are educated in the least restricted environment (LRE) and provides accommodations such as assistive technology, interpreters, and extended test time.

  • Public Law 94-142

    This law was created with the purpose of all children with disabilities having the right to an education. It guarantees a free and public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE) as well as an individual education plan (IEP) for students to reach goals and receive the resources they need. It is also known as the Education for all Handicapped Children Act of 1975.