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Perkins School for Blind
The Perkins School for Blind was the first school for the blind that was established in the United States. The founders, Dr. John Dix Fisher and Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe, hoped to bring fair opportunities to those with visual disabilities. One of the most notable milestones at Perkins was when Laura Bridgman enrolled and became the first deafblind person to be educated.
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Council for Exceptional Children
The largest and most well-known professional organization in special education. There are more than 27,000 members including college students, teachers, professors, parents, and others. The CEC is dedicated to bettering the achievements of youth with disabilities or gifts.
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Brown v. Board of Education
Established that US state laws enforcing racial segregation in public schools are unconstitutional as they violated the 14th amendment of the Constitution. Brown v. Board of Education acknowledged that different educational areas for whites and African American students were unequal. This case was so important because it served as a basis for the civil right movements.
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Individualized Education Program
For each student with special education needs, teachers are required by law to create an IEP for every student. The purpose of this program is to give an education that specifically accommodates the needs of each child with disabilities. IEPs are created and instilled by the multidisciplinary team. -
ADA
The Americans with Disabilities Act was the world's first comprehensive civil rights law for those with disabilities. It forbids discrimination against people with disabilities in many areas including employment, transportation, public accommodations, communications, and access to state/local government' programs and services. Under this act, workers who have disabilities must have equal opportunities to all privileges of employment that people without disabilities have. -
No Child Left Behind Act
This act was passed into law by President George W. Bush and is the most recent revision to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. It greatly improved the federal role in making schools responsible for their academic advancement of all students. Although states were not forced to follow the new requirements, they could lose federal Title I money.
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IDEA
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act is the federal law that allows for children with disabilities to have access to special education and service programming. IDEA was previously known as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act but this was changed in 1990. This act also guarantees that children with disabilities be prepared for employment and independent living.