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First American School for the Disabled
The Connecticut Asylum for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons was the first permanent school for deaf Americans. It opened on April 15, 1817. It was established by Gallaudet and Clerc. It influenced movements that set to diversify education, and to bring education to those that are disadvantaged. -
The Passage of the 14th Amendment
The 14th amendment states that anyone who is born or naturalized in the US is a citizen. The amendment was ratified to guarantee citizenship for all. States cannot make laws that limit the liberties of US Citizens. Link to Video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re2d80cqhYw (Explanation of the 14th Amendment) Academic Website : https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/amendmentxiv -
Plessy V. Ferguson
The Supreme Court ruling in Plessy V. Ferguson reversed nearly all of the civil rights progress made during the Reconstruction Era. It maintained that segregation was legal. According to the ruling, state segregation laws did not violate the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment. Link to Video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ka0iFmU7Jk (Explanation of Plessy V. Ferguson) Academic Website: https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/plessy_v_ferguson_(1896) -
Early Foundations of Special Education
Before the 1950s, students with disabilities were not welcome in public schools across the United States. It students faced learning challenges, they were dropped out of school. There were no laws that protected students with disabilities. -
Department of Public Welfare v. Haas
During the 1950s, the courts would often rule in favor of the schools. Public schools did not have to accept any child with disabilities. In 1958, the Supreme Court of Illinois ruled that public schools did not have to accept any student with disabilities due to their lack of ability to learn in the typical classroom setting, Academic Article : https://scholarship.law.nd.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1056&context=jleg -
Brown V. Board of Education
Jim Crow laws were dominant in the South. As the result of Jim Crow laws in the South, many states had separate schools for white and black children. This case came about because a black family tried to get their daughter into a white school close to their house. This was denied, and the daughter had to go to the more distant white school. The Supreme Court agreed that separate facilities violated the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment. Racial segregation in schools was illegal. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 was a component of the Great Society legislation under the Johnson Administration. The act had many different goals such as funding low income schools, professional development, and bilingual education. The act allowed states to determine how they would spend the funds. Academic Website : https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/programs/education/elementary-and-secondary-education-act-of-1965/ -
A Fight for Equality
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania denied an education to children who had not attained a mental age of 5 years by the start of the first grade or at the age of 8. The exclusion violated the equal protection and the due process clause of the 14th amendment. This case affected special education today by granting all children regardless of disability the right to an education in the least restrictive environment. Link to Video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOEX1YnkPFg -
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is a civil rights law to prevent discrimination. It protects individuals from discrimination on the basis of disability. It protects the rights of children with disabilities in school. It states that “individuals with disablilites cannot be excluded from participation in, denied benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance”. -
The Passage of P.L. 94-142
According to this law, a free and appropriate public education must be provided for all children with disabilities in the U.S. Mandated were procedures for identification, due process, least restrictive environment, IEPs, non-discriminatory evaluation, confidentiality and personnel development, and appropriate, public education at no cost to parents -
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act provides equality and support for those that were physically and mentally impaired. It made facilities usable and accessible for people with disabilities. It has improved and implemented regulations and guidelines for many private and public communities to provide amenities to individuals that are disabled. It provides civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities. Link to Video :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDXlO0QmI1o -
IDEA
In 1990, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was passed (P.L 101-476). This law expands the resources available to students with special needs such as social workers and assistive technology. This law also states that a transition program be in play until the student reaches the age of 16. It is the federal law that requires each state that opts into the program that they are required to comply with both the procedural requirements as well as the substantive requirements. -
Amendments to IDEA
Amendments to IDEA help this re-authorization of 1997 IDEA to align with the No Child Left Behind legislation, aligning with its 6 principles and following the key principles of zero reject, appropriate education, non-discriminatory evaluation, least restrictive environment, procedural due process and parent participation. -
The No Child Left Behind Act
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 helped to shine a light on disadvantaged children. It also helped to push schools to give them more attention, help, and support. It emphasized teacher qualifications, and kept school administrators and teachers accountable for the performance of the students. It also helped to add structure to educational programs across the nation. Link to Video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Qk00niNQwA (Explanation of the No Child Left Behind Act) -
P.L. 108-446 (IDEIA)
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act or P.L 108-446 increased funds to provide intervention services. It also required that teachers all meet special need requirements and proper training.