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First Public School for Students with Disabilities
The first public school for children with disabilities, the American School for the Deaf, was established in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1817. This school marked the beginning of formalized education for children with disabilities in the U.S. -
Brown v. Board of Education
Although this landmark Supreme Court case focused on racial segregation, it also set a precedent for inclusion by affirming that "separate but equal" has no place in education. This decision paved the way for arguments about the rights of students with disabilities to be educated in the least restrictive environment. -
Rehabilitation Act (Section 504)
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was the first civil rights law prohibiting discrimination against individuals with disabilities in programs that receive federal funding. It laid the groundwork for future disability rights legislation. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA)
The EHA, now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), mandated that public schools provide free and appropriate education to all students with disabilities in the least restrictive environment. -
Handicapped Children’s Protection Act
This law amended the EHA to provide legal recourse for families if their children’s educational rights were violated, allowing them to seek reimbursement for legal fees. -
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The ADA provided comprehensive civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities, influencing access and accommodations in all public spaces, including schools, to ensure equal opportunities. -
IDEA Reauthorization
The reauthorization of IDEA emphasized the inclusion of students with disabilities in general education classrooms and promoted access to the general curriculum. -
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
NCLB aimed to improve educational outcomes for all students, including those with disabilities, by holding schools accountable for their progress and including them in statewide assessments. -
IDEA Reauthorization
This reauthorization aligned IDEA with NCLB, emphasizing measurable outcomes for students with disabilities and increasing accountability for schools to provide high-quality instruction in the least restrictive environment. -
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
ESSA replaced NCLB and aimed to provide a more flexible approach to education while still ensuring that all students, including those with disabilities, are held to high academic standards.