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The Father of Special Education
French Physician Jean-Marc Itard was coined the “Father of Special Education” as a result of his attempts to educate the “wild boy of Aveyron” despite his categorization as hopeless. He was one of the first to attempt the instruction of mentally retarded children on a scientific basis. In 1807 Reports on the Savage of Aveyron, he explained the methods that he used in trying to train and educate an unsocialized 11 year old boy who had been found in a forest in Aveyron, South of Paris. -
The American Asylum for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb: Gallaudet University
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet founded American School for the Deaf (ASD) Gallaudet University formerly known as the American Asylum for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb which is devoted to the education of students with hearing impairments It is the oldest permanent school for the deaf in the United States, and the first school for children with disabilities anywhere in the western hemisphere. The terminology changes in Special Education are apparent in the name change of Gallaudet University. -
The First Early Interventionist & The First Great Teacher in the field of Developmental Disabilities
Edouard Seguin, a student of Itard and also one of the first Early Interventionists with his work in developing instructional programs for children thought to be incapable of learning. During their time, they establish a foundation for many contemporary practices in special education and world's first school for the severely intellectually disabled. It includes individualized teachings, the use of positive reinforcement techniques, and a belief in the capability of all children to learn. -
The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD)
The AAIDD is the oldest professional association concerned with intellectual and developmental disabilities. AAIDD advocates for the equality, dignity, and human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and for their full inclusion and participation in society. The AAIDD promotes progressive policies, sound research, effective practices, and universal human rights for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. -
Special Education appears in Public Schools
Self-contained classrooms where students with disabilities were grouped together and segregated from other pupils. According to Gargiulo, 2011, most students in self-contained classrooms were kept isolated from all other students, including the lunch and recess periods. An education for students with disabilities “is a right guaranteed by federal and state laws and reinforced by Judicial interpretation.” -
Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Public Law 93-112)
Section 504 prohibits discrimination of individuals with disabilities “aimed at protecting children and adults against discrimination due to a disability...no individual can be excluded, solely because of his or her disability, from participating in or benefiting from any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance, which includes schools.” -
Education for all Handicapped Children Act of 1975 (EAHCA) (Public Law 94-142)
An act which aims to assure that all children with disabilities have free appropriate public education which emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs to assure that the rights of children with disabilities and their parents are protected, to assist States and localities to provide for the education of all children with disabilities and to assess and assure the effectiveness of efforts to educate all children with disabilities -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1975-1990 (IDEA) - Public Law 105-117
This act is to assure that all handicapped children have available to them a free appropriate public education which emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs, to assure that the rights of handicapped children and their parents or guardians are protected, to assist States and localities to provide for the education of all handicapped children, and to assess and assure the effectiveness of efforts to educate handicapped children. -
Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments of 1986 (EHA) - Public Law 99-457
An act that mandates a special education for preschoolers with disabilities, incentives introduced as an option by IDEA, for providing early intervention services to infants and toddlers. It represents an opportunity to intervene and effect meaningful change in the lives of our nation’s youngest and most vulnerable children. These amendments include a rigorous national agenda pertaining to more and better services to young special needs children and their families. -
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 - Public Law 101-356
Prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. “ensuring that individuals with disabilities receive the protections and services to which they are legally entitled.” -
No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) - Public Law 107-110
This act is a comprehensive plan to reform schools, change school culture, empower parents, and improve education for all children. The law promises to raise standards for all children and to help all children meet these standards. The anticipated benefit of this requirement is that assessment results will directly translate into instructional accommodations. Greater emphasis will most likely be placed on ensuring that pupils in special education are exposed to the general education curriculum.
