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American School for the Deaf
The American Asylum for the Education and Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb. This breakthrough institution started with just 7 students and grew to include 33 just with in the first year. Being primarily a school for deaf children, all incoming teachers were required to take lessons in sign language, while the children’s education consisted of reading and writing English, history, geography and religion as well as manual skills. -
Brown V. Board of Education
The Supreme court in this case ruled unanimously that the separation of children in schools based on race is unconstitutional. Although it only applied to public schools it implied that segregation was shouldn’t be accepted in other places. The judgement of this law made it possible for desegregation of housing and other public areas. -
Autism Society of America
First named the National Society for Autistic Children, the organization was founded by Bernard Rimland, Ivar Lovas & Ruth Sullivan. Their mission was to raise public awareness about autism. The program assists families and individuals with autism find local, state and national support and resources for anything from housing to educational or financial planning. This non-profit organization also monitors legislation to ensure that children with autism have access to an inclusive education. -
Elementary & Secondary Education Act
The E.S.E.A was passed in 19645 as a part of President Johnson’s war on poverty. This law provides government funds to Title 1 schools to improve the quality of education being offered to students from low income households. The Title 1 designation is given to schools where more than 40% of students qualify as low income. -
Mills v Board of Education
Mills v The board of Education expanded on a similar case out of Pennsylvania in the same year, it became one of the first cases to challenge the denial of disabled children from a public education. The Board of Education ruled that no child could be denied a public education regardless of disability or funding. Many of the provisions for these rulings were used in other federal legislation referring to the education of disabled children. -
Section 504
The Vocational Rehabilitation Act was one of the first laws that guaranteed certain rights to people with disabilities. Section 504 prohibits schools from discriminating against students with disabilities and provides necessary accommodations to meet their educational needs. Students must meet specific criteria to be protected under section 504 such as having a physical or mental impairment as specified by a doctor that limits the student’s ability to learn. -
Education for all Handicapped Children Act
Before the enactment of the E.H.A the U.S was excluding nearly 1.8 million special needs children from public schools. Under this law, signed by President Ford, all children with disabilities were promised the right to a free and appropriate education that meets their specific needs. The law also provides protection for the rights of the disabled student and their parents. -
FDLRS
The Florida Diagnostic Learning & Resource System was established by the Board of Education in 1978. FDLRS provides support for children in ESE programs, their families and schools in all Florida school districts. Services include evaluation of the child, referrals for additional services, parent support and the encouragement of parent involvement. As a service for educators FDLRS provides ample training opportunities through courses and webinars. FDLRS -
I.D.E.A
The Individual’s with Disabilities Education Act was amended in 1997 from the Education for all handicapped Children Act. This law also states that children with disabilities are entitled to a free and appropriate education. The update includes the distribution of state funding for schools and requires schools to provide Individual Education Programs and additional services to meet the needs of students with special needs.
IDEA -
No Child Left Behind
No Child Left Behind was updated in 2002 from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The act insured that all schools are held accountable for what and how the students learn by giving annual assessments, the schools must provide necessary accommodation to students with special needs for these assessments. The act challenges local governments and school districts to focus on the educational improvement of lower preforming students and holds them accountable if there is no improvement.