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The American School for the Deaf and Blind Opens
https://www.asd-1817.org/
In April 15,1817 in Hartford, Connecticut, the American School for the Deaf and Blind opened. This was the first school for children with disabilities in the Western Hemisphere. Today, the school is a national leader in providing comprehensive education for students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. -
The Perkins Institute for the Blind Opens
https://www.perkins.org/
In 1832 in Boston, Massachusetts, The Perkins Institute for the Blind opened to serve students with visual impairments. Students were required to live and learn on campus. The Perkins Institute is the oldest school for the blind in the United States. -
Law Mandating Compulsory Education in Enacted
https://definitions.uslegal.com/c/compulsory-education/
Rhode Island passed a law mandating compulsory education for all children in 1840. This means that all children must be provided education by the government. The current compulsory age of education is from ages 5 to 16. Up until 1880, the compulsory age of education was 10 years old. -
The Columbia Institute for the Deaf and Dumb and Blind Opens
https://www.gallaudet.edu/academic-catalog/about-gallaudet
This institute was established in 1864. It was the first institution that granted college degrees to persons with disabilities. Deaf referred to individuals who were hearing impaired, blind referred to visually impaired and dumb referred to those individuals with speech or language impairments. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY_VPPxikIw
In 1896, Plessy versus Ferguson upheld the Louisiana separate car act which set the precedent for separate but equal. Homer Plessy, a mixed-race man was forcibly removed from a Louisiana train car. This ruling set the precedent that the white race was far more superior than blacks or colored people as white accommodations where far more satisfactory than those set aside for colored or blacks. -
Beatie v. Board of Education
https://www.slideshare.net/madiharahman1/history-of-special-education-45052419
In 1919, Beatie versus Board of Education decided that children with cerebral palsy and other conditions that cause facial abnormalities could cause “depression and nauseating effects” upon others. This legislation allowed the suspension, expulsion and exclusion of children with disabilities from the classroom or school setting. -
Council for Exceptional Children is Formed
https://www.cec.sped.org/
The Council for Exceptional Children was founded on February 24, 1922. It was the first advocacy group for children with disabilities. CEC is one of the largest advocacy groups of its kind. CEC’s main objective is to ensure that children with disabilities receive Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). -
The National Association of Retarded Citizens is Started
https://thearc.org/about-us/history/
NARC was established on October 20, 1950. This organization was formed by 23 like-mined advocacy groups. NARC, 200,000-plus members strong, was instrumental in the passing of IDEA. NARC ensured that all parts of the judicial process were met. -
Brown v. Board of Education
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTGHLdr-iak On May 17, 1954, Brown v. Board of Education overturned Plessy v. Ferguson stating that separate is NOT equal. It focused on black versus white and the learning condition of special versus general education students. This case encouraged the formation of advocacy groups to inform the public of the need of special education programs -
PARC v. Penn
On October 8, 1971, a ruling in the case against the Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was made. The court found that students with intellectual disabilities and learning disabilities should be placed in publicly funded settings that meet their needs based on proper and thorough evaluation. This increased the likelihood that students would be placed in the appropriate setting based on their strengths and needs. -
Mills vs. Board of Education of the District of Columbia
https://usedulaw.com/438-mills-v-board-of-education-of-the-district-of-columbia.html
On December 17, 1971, the United States District Court of the District of Columbia classified students as “exceptional”. This includes students with mental and learning disabilities. This law made it unlawful for the District of Columbia’s Board of Education to deny exceptional students a publicly funded education. -
Center for Independent Living is Opened
https://www.cilsf.org/
On January 8, 1972, the Center for Independent Living opens at Berkley University of California by Ed Roberts. The purpose of this institution is to support individuals with disabilities so that they are able live normal lives as independently as possible. There are several local branches throughout the United States. -
Section 504
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJ2KlmG5OV0 On September 26,1973, the Section 504 act was mandated, and it protects individual students with disabilities from discrimination on the basis of physical and mental impairments. Section includes the provisions of FAPE, LRE and procedural safeguards. It does not place the student in special education, but allows the student with a disability to receive accommodations. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act is Mandated
http://www.specialednews.com/special-education-dictionary/eha---education-for-all-handicapped-children-act.htm
In 1975, congress enacted the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (PL-94-142) which included FAPE and LRE. This means that children with disabilities must be provided a Free, Appropriate Public Education in the Least Restrictive Environment where they are included in general education as much as is appropriate. -
Board of Education of HHCD vs. Rowley
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Board-of-Education-of-the-Hendrick-Hudson-Central-School-District-v-Rowley
On June 28, 1982, the landmark case between the Board of Education of the Hendrick Hudson Central School District and Rowley resulted in the two-part test to determine if FAPE is being met. It asks two questions: a) Is the school fulfilling the procedures of IDEA? AND b) Is the IEP through the IDEA act? -
Handicapped Children Protection Act is Signed into Law
https://commons.trincoll.edu/edreform/2012/05/the-education-for-all-handicapped-children-act-a-faltering-step-towards-integration/
On August 6, 1986, Ronald Regan signed legislation that ensured that parents of children with disabilities have input in the development of their children’s IEP. It also guaranteed FAPE and procedural safeguards. The law did not address relief parents received when successfully contesting special education decisions made by their child’s school. -
Americans with Disabilities Act is Enacted
https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/history/35th/1990s/ada.html
On July 26, 1990, President George H. W. Bush signed legislation that protected people with special needs ensuring that they have the same rights in school and work. It protects those individuals from discrimination in schools, workplaces and in public places such as transportation. -
IDEA 1990 becomes Law
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XMndYNEGFA
On October 30,1990, this act overhauled Ford’s Education for All Handicapped Children Act. It was signed by the President George Herbert Walker Bush. It included six pillars: a) FAPE b) LRE c) IEP d) Evaluation e) Parent-Student -
No Child Left Behind
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0--2nhsDorg
IEP On January 8, 2002, President George W. Bush signed into legislation that all children will be proficient in reading and math by the year of 2014 process. NCLB reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Act which committed the federal government to provide “quality and equality” when educating young people. -
The IDEA Improvement Act of 2004 is Mandated
https://sites.ed.gov/idea/
On December 3rd, 2004, IDEA was reconstructed from the 1990 act. It was revised to include due process, student discipline and the IEP process. The law mandated equity, accountability and excellence in the education of children with disabilities.
