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American School for the Deaf is Founded
The inspiration for the school began when Thomas Hopkins Gallauedet was observed making amateur attempts to communicate with a wealthy doctor's deaf daughter, Alice Cogswell. The doctor asked Gallauedet to find a better way to formally educate his daughter and sent him to Europe to study methods of communicating with and educating deaf persons. There he encountered Laurent Clerc and brought him back to America where they established this institution for the deaf in Hartford, Connecticut. -
Perkins Institution for the Blind Opens
The institution, which was founded by Samuel Howe, Thomas Perkins, and Dr. John Fisher, was opened in 1832 in Watertown, Massachusetts. For the first time, blind and visually impaired children in America could attend a school that would teach them reading, writing, and mathematics. There are a number of figures in Perkin's history who contributed to the heritage of the institution such as Anne Sullivan, Laura Bridgman, and Helen Keller. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
This was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that had a negative impact on the education for students with disabilities because it followed the "separate but equal" doctrine. Although the intention of the case was to address the constitutionality of racial segregation, it affected the education for children with disabilities. It would take another 58 years before this doctrine would be overturned, paving the way for the future integration of students with disabilities in schools. -
Beattie v. Board of Education
The Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld a ruling that a student could be excluded from a school based on a disability. In this case, a student had a condition which caused facial contortions, drooling, and speech problems. Teachers found it "nauseating" and expelled him. The courts agreed with school officials and ruled that the school could exclude the student, as the student required too much of the teacher's time and was a disruption to the learning environment. -
Council for Exceptional Children Formed
Founded by Elizabeth Farrell, the CEC aimed to unite those interested in educational problems of "special children", emphasize the education of "special children" rather than their identification, and establish professional standards for teachers in the field of special education. The CEC is a non-profit association that advocates for appropriate governmental policies. In addition, it is the largest international organization set on improving educational success of children with disabilities. -
Brown v. Board of Education
In this landmark Supreme Court case the "separate but equal" doctrine was deemed unconstitutional. Schools could no longer segregate students by race. After this case, early advocates reasoned if schools should not segregate by race, they also should not segregate students by their abilities and disabilities. These advocates were successful and lawsuits/legislation were filed and passed on behalf of students with disabilities. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
This act, signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson, addressed the inequality of educational opportunity for underprivileged children and provided federal general aid to education. In 1966, it was amended to authorize grants to state institutions and state operated schools devoted to the education of children with disabilities. This was the first federal grant program that specifically targeted children with disabilities. -
Bureau of Education of the Handicapped Created
This organization was a result of title VI of the ESEA and functioned to fight for the educational rights of students with disabilities, ages three to twenty-one. They are now known as the Office of Special Education Programs and provide leadership and financial support for students with disabilities. The creation of the bureau indicated that advancements in special education were finally being put into perspective. -
PARC v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
This was the country's first right-to-education suit where plaintiffs argued that students with mental retardation were not receiving publicly supported education. There was an agreement that all children with disabilities, ages 6 to 21, must be educated in a program most like the programs provided for their non-disabled peers. In addition, it was ruled that the Commonwealth could no longer deny any child with disabilities access to any free public program of education and training. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act
Congress enacted this law to assure that all handicapped children have access to a free and appropriate education which emphasizes special education and related services. In addition, it assures that the rights of handicapped children and their parents or guardians are protected. In 1990, it was amended and renamed as Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Link text -
No Child Left Behind Act
The purpose of this act is to ensure that all children receive a "fair, equal, and significant opportunity" to obtain a high-quality education. All pupils, even those in special education, were expected to demonstrate proficiency in core subjects. In addition, the law called for highly qualified teachers, including those who teach special education. Link text -
Rosa's Law
This law removes the terms "mental retardation" and "mentally retarded" from federal health, education, and labor policy. These words are replaced with people first language including "individual with an intellectual disability". This law is important because it changes how people with intellectual disabilities are labeled. Words matter and if using a term that diminishes human dignity, it can lead to mistreatment and abuse.
