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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 -
National Assoc. for Retarded Children (NARC)
National Association for Retarded Children was established in 1953 by groups of concerned parents and friends of retarded children. It was founded to support and advocate for education and equal rights for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It is now known as The Arc of the United States (The Arc) and its advocacy has helped lead to the passage of significant state and federal legislation on behalf of people with disabilities.
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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. -
Am. with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Americans with Disabilities Act protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination in many areas of public life including schools and private places that are open to the public. It ensures equal access and opportunities in employment, state and local government services, public accommodations, telecommunication and transportation for individuals with disabilities. Under the ADA, disabilities include both physical and mental conditions and ensure rights for inclusion in general education. -
IDEA
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act replaced and extended The Education for All Handicapped Children Act. It extended to include parents' involvement in educational planning, access to general education curriculum and students with disabilities participation in statewide testing. Disabilities expanded to include traumatic brain injury and children with Autism whose conditions qualified them for protection and services under IDEA.
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No Child Left Behind Act(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.