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American Asylum for the Education and Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb
The first special education school in the US was the American Asylum for the Education and Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb. Education was important in helping with therapy and provided educational programs as well. These classes were initially to help immigrant students and students with intelligence disabilities. This school is now known as the American School for the Deaf in Connecticut. -
The American Association on Mental Deficiency
This was one of the first organizations to advocate for special education children. They promoted children with disabilities having rights in not just schools, but life as well. This organization advocated for and made goals to help the world move forward with rights for people with disabilities and create more effective organizations for those children. They have also since changed their name to American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
This amendment helped create a foundation for students with disabilities by helping to integrate them with general education students. Since special education was separated from general classes, students were less likely to transition to secondary school. Brown v. Board of Education allowed special education to integrate with general education students. -
Pennsylvania Association of Retarded Children vs. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
A Pennsylvania court decided that the state could not deny the right to education based on a student's intellectual disability. This started when 14 children with intellectual disabilities were unable to attend public schools due to their disabilities. At the time, only students who were deemed past the mental age of 5 were allowed to attend schools. This was one of the first cases to establish that students with mental disabilities should have equal access to education. -
Mills vs. Board of Education of the District of Columbia
Mills was a class action lawsuit that the school district faced because they denied students with disabilities access to education because of the additional costs they'd have to pay. The courts ruled that students cannot deny education based on costs. This was one of the first cases in the US that guaranteed the right to an education for students with disabilities. -
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Education for All Handicapped Children Act
This act required free education for students with disabilities. It allowed students to have just education for students aging from 5-18 and helped define least restrictive environments and IEPs. By helping to define least restrictive environments, this also helped students with disabilities be more welcomed into general education and define what special education would look like. This also heled define FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education) across the country. -
Honig vs. Doe
Honig vs. Doe was the result of a violation of EAHCA in California when two students with disabilities were suspended for violent acts that the students were unable to control. The courts ruled that schools cannot expel students for behaviors relating to their disabilities. They proposed a "stay-put" provision for disabled students allowing students to stay in their current educational positions. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act
This allowed for the RTI model to determine a child's disability without using the severe discrepancy model. IDEIA also helped increase funding for public education to help students with an array of disabilities attend school. To qualifying for IDEIA, students with disabilities must reapply every few years and are only able to use these resources until they are 21.
IDEIA -
Winkelman vs. Parma City School District
This case ruled that IDEA grants parents the right to pursue IDEA claims on their behalf, independent of their child's rights. The parents are entitled to file grievances on behalf of their children. This reached the supreme court and they ruled that IDEA claims can be held with the parents of students that are disabled.
