History of Special Education

  • American School for the Deaf Opens

    In April of 1817, the first school for students who are disabled opened in Connecticut. It was opened in the Western Hemisphere and it was the only one.
  • Compulsory Education

    This law mandates that all students receive education and the government must provide them with it. This law was passed in Rhode Island and it is for all students.
  • Columbia Institution

    The U.S. Congress to allowed a school for students with disabilities to receive a college degree. This college became the first college to grant degrees to students who were "deaf, dumb, and blind".
  • Council for Exceptional Children

    The CEC became the first group to advocate for children with disabilities. It is one of the largest groups and they want to ensure that students with special needs receive a free public education.
  • Brown vs. Board of Education

    This court case was about black vs. white and special needs students vs. general education students. This court case has an after affect by new advocacy groups to let people know about the need for special education programs in school
  • Elementary and Secondary Education Act

    The Elementary and Secondary Education Act gave grants to state schools and helped place programs to teach students with disabilities.
  • Section 504

    Section 504 protects the discrimination of special needs and disabilities. It is the first law giving students protection and are eligible under this law either with a physical or mental disability.
  • Education for All Handicapped Children Act

    This act provided free education in a public school for students with disabilities. It also provided special education, services, zero reject, and least restrictive envornment.
  • Least Restrictive Enviroment

    LRE means that students with disabilities should be with a regular class as much as possible. It means that students with the IEP's must have an aide or a para and have social experiences.
  • Handicapped Children's Protection Act

    This act gives parents more say in the development of their child with disabilities IEP. Ronald Regan is the president who signed this and it became a law.
  • Americans with Disabilities Act

    This act was signed by President Geoge W. Bush. This act says that everyone even with special needs has equal rights at school and at work. It also says that people with disabilities cannot be discriminated against in everyday life.
  • IDEA

    IDEA stands for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This act was also signed by George W. Bush. This law includes six categories: FAPE, LRE, IEP, evaluation, parent/student participation, and all procedural safeguards for the individual. It also has four sections.
    In 2004, they made changes to this one and added due process, IEP, and student discipline.