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Perkins School for the Blind
Perkins School for the Blind was founded in Watertown, Massachusetts in 1829. It was the first school in the United States for people who are blind. They played an important role in the history of education in the United States due to their commitment to opening doors to education and creating independence and equal opportunities for people who are blind, deafblind and visually impaired. PerkinsSchool -
PARC v. Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Citizens (PARC) v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was a class-action lawsuit against the school districts on behalf of all children with mental retardation in the state of Pennsylvania. The schools deemed children with intellectual disabilities ineligible to attend public schools and denied them a free education. The lawsuit resulted in the state agreeing to provide free public education for all children with mental retardation. -
Mills v. DC Board of Education
Mills was a class-action lawsuit against the District of Columbia school board on behalf of seven children with varied disabilities. They were denied a free public education due to their disabilities and the additional school funding needed for accommodations to educate them. The Judge ruled that all students with disabilities including physical disabilities will be provided a free public education regardless of the extent or severity of their disability or the availability of school funding. -
The Rehabilitation Act 1973
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in programs receiving federal financial assistance. Section 504 protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination in programs and activities receiving federal funding including public schools throughout the country. It ensures that eligible students with disabilities have equal access to education including general education, activities and rights to reasonable accommodations under section 504. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA)
EAHCA was enacted to guarantee a free and appropriate public education for children with disabilities and is designed to meet their unique needs regardless of their disabilities. This act introduced Individualized Education Programs (IEP) as a requirement for individualized learning goals and objectives for each student with disabilities. It requires children with disabilities to be educated in the least restrictive environment whenever possible to ensure they are included in general education. -
National Council on Disability (NCD)
An independent federal agency that provides advisement to Congress and the President on problems and concerns related to disability policies. It advocates for laws and policies that promote equal rights and equal access to services for people with disability including for students with disabilities to obtain a free and appropriate public education while being educated in the least restrictive environment. It promotes to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
Americans with Disabilities Act protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination in numerous areas of public life including schools, employment, transportation and private places that are open to the general public. It ensures equal access and opportunities in employment, state and local government services, public accommodations, telecommunication and transportation for individuals with disabilities. Under ADA, disabilities include both physical and mental conditions. -
No Child Left Behind (NCLB)
NCLB requires that all students including students with disabilities be included in statewide testing to measure students' annual progress with hopes of improving educational outcomes. Testing accommodations are given to students with disabilities and schools are held accountable for students’ academic performance through statewide testing. It increased educational funding to schools so they are equipped to help students with disabilities reach high expectations and meet standards set statewide.