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Dr. Jean-Marc Gaspard Itard
The "Father of Special Education" attempts to educate "Victor" utilizing modern day "behavior modification" techniques. -
American Asylum for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb Persons
The Connecticut Asylum for the Education and INstruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons, the first residential school in the United States, opens with the Rev. Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet as principal. -
Edouard Seguin
Pioneer in sensorimotor exercises designed to remediate specific disabilities. -
Seeing Eye Dogs
The first Seeing Eye Dogs for the blind are introduced in America. -
Braille Code
The Braille code was published by Louis Braille. -
Massachusetts School for Idiotic and Feeble Minded Children
Samuel Girdley Howe establishes the Massachusetts School for Idiotic and Feeble Minded Children. -
Asylum and Prison Reform Launches
The conditions of American asylums and prisons are brought to the forefront of reform discussion by Dorthea Lynde Dix. -
Alexander Graham Bell
Advocates for educating children with disabilities in public schools. -
NEA Instructional Policies
National Education Association established a section for teachers of children with disabilities. -
Standford-Binet Scale of Intelligence
Lewis Terman while at Stanford University publishes and revises Alfred Binet's standard IQ test. -
Gifted Education Training
The Teachers College at Columbia University begins a training program for educators of gifted students. -
Predecessor to the CEC
The organization is founded in New York City and would later become the Council for Exceptional Children. -
United Cerebral Palsy Association
United Cerebral Palsy Association is founded by Leonard Goldenson -
National Association of Parents and Friends of Mentally Retarded Children
ARC is founded and would later be known as the Association for Retarded Citizens. -
National Association for Gifted Children
Ann Isaacs founds this organization to support gifted and talented children and their parents. -
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, KS
Eliminated educational segregation and set the foundation for equal education for students with disabilities. -
Film Captioning (PL 87-715)
Public Law 87-715 authorizes Captioned Films for the Deaf to begin acquiring and captioning educational films. -
Association for Children with Learning Disabilities
Beginning with parental advocacy conference in 1963 in Chicago, this organization was incorporated in 1964. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
President Johnson signs the act in which schools began receiving federal monies for public education. -
ESEA Amendment
Designated funding specifically for students with disabilities. -
Lack of education despite legal support
In 1970 U.S. Schools were educating only one in five children with disabilities. -
PARC v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Guaranteed a free public education for individuals aged 6 to 21 despite the severity of impairments or disabilities. -
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
The first public law designed to prevent discrimination of children and adults because of their disabilities. -
Education for all Handicapped Children Act (PL 94-142)
President Gerald Ford signed this bill ensuring a free and appropriate public education for all handicapped children. -
Board of Education of the Hendrick Hudson Central School District v. Rowley
Litigation failure on behalf of special education where "appropriate education" did not include providing a sign language interpreter. -
Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments (PL 94-142)
Amendments to IDEA included services for preschoolers aged 3 to 5, early intervention services for infants and toddlers birth through 2, and established an Individualized Family Service Plan. -
Daniel R.R. v. State Board of Education
Litigation upheld a segregated classroom for a student with Down syndrome affecting "least restrictive environment." -
Americans with Disabilities Act (PL 101-336)
Prohibited discrimination on the basis of disability. -
IDEA Passes
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (PL 101-476) passes and emphasizes transition planning for adolescents with disabilities. -
Oberti v. Board of Education of the Borough of Clementon School District
A win for Special Education that required supplementary aids and services must be offered before segregation placement. -
IDEA Act Amendments (PL 105-17)
Legislation signed by President Bill Clinton that required students with disabilities to participate in state and district assessments, transition planning beginning at age 14, and requiring general educators to participate on IEP teams. -
Cedar Rapids Community School District v. Garret F.
Litigation that stated continuous medical services are considered related services. -
No Child Left Behind Act
President George W. Bush signed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act required proficiency in mathematics, reading, and science. -
IDEA Improvement Act
Reauthorized IDEA and eliminated short-term objectives in IEPs, permitted multi-year IEPs, and modified provisions for English Language Learners. -
Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments
Law overturned two Supreme Court decisions that limited the meaning of the term "disability" by providing two non-inclusive lists of "major life activities" and "major bodily functions." -
Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District
Parents of a boy with autism compelled the public school district to pay for private education claiming the district's their "IEP was inadequate." Justice John Roberts wrote the opinion in the 8-0 ruling that increased rigor and standards for all students, including those with disabilities.
