-
First Federal Law Passed
An act for the relief of sick and disabled seamen was passed by the 5th Congress. This act allowed for twenty cents per month to be taken out of the wages of seamen in order to provide funding for medical care for sick and disabled seamen. It also helped build additional hospitals for the treatment of seamen. It was signed by president John Adams on July 16th, 1798. -
First Special Education Class Opens
In Providence, Rhode Island, an auxiliary school for fifteen mentally challenged students opened in December of 1896. By 1898, the city had established three more auxiliary schools and one special education classroom in a public school. Other cities followed the example and special education classrooms in schools became a generally accepted idea. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
Brown vs. Board of Education was a landmark case in the Supreme Court in which the justices ruled that racial segregation of children in public schools was unconstitutional. This set a precedent for education and all services, including special education, to be created with equality at the forefront. https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/brown-v-board-of-education-of-topeka -
The President's Panel on Mental Retardation
In October of 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced that he was putting together a panel of scientists and doctors to come up with a plan to support those with special needs in our society. They gathered data and devised solutions to have a federal comprehensive approach to assisting those with special needs. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
This act was the cornerstone of President Lyndon B. Johnson's "war on poverty". This act provides funding to primary and secondary education and emphasizes high standards and accountability. This act prioritizes funds to be given to schools that have students with the highest percentages of low income families. -
First Special Olympics Event
In July of 1968, the first Special Olympics competition was held in Chicago's Soldier Field for young people with intellectual disabilities. This event was described as a movement that shed much needed light on those with special needs and opened doors of understanding and acceptance within our society. https://www.specialolympics.org/about/history/1968-games -
Rehabilitation Act of 1973
This act prohibits the discrimination on the basis of disability in programs that are conducted by federal agencies or in any programs receiving federal assistance. This was the first type of legislation to address the idea of equal access to many things in society for those with special needs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsL_nhG3wU8 -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act
In 1975, the United States Congress enacted the Education for Handicapped Children Act. This is now knows as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This ensures that children with special needs in public schools will receive one free meal at school each day and have access to a fair education. Schools accepting federal funds for operations must adhere to this act and it's parameters. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush. It is one of our country's most comprehensive pieces of legislation that prohibits discrimination and guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities in society as everyone else. -
No Child Left Behind
This act was passed by Congress in 2001 and signed into law by President George W. Bush in January 2002. This act supported standards based education with standardized assessments. During this passage, there was a provision added for disadvantaged students that supported meeting their needs by requiring states to also test basic skills.
