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The First Public Special Education Class
Rhode Island opened the first public special education class in the U.S. in 1896. The class was specifically for students who were diagnosed with mental retardation. The schools had a total of fifteen higher grade students enrolled when it first opened. After this school open, it influence other cities to open special education schools. -
The Council for Exceptional Children
The Council for Exceptional Children is a professional association of educators dedicated to advancing the success of children with exceptionalities. They help individuals with disabilities by advocating for them to ensure their rights and polices. (https://www.cec.sped.org/) -
The First Special Olympics
The first Special Olympics was held on July 20, 1968 in Chicago's Soldier Field in Chicago, IL. About a thousand people with diagnosed with intellectual disabilities from 26 U.S. states and Canada compete in track and field, swimming and floor hockey. The Special was created by Eunice Kennedy Shriver who saw how unjustly and unfairly people with intellectual disabilities were treated. She wanted people to learn and see what children with disabilities can do in sports and other activities. -
Rehabilitation Act Section 504 (1973)
The Rehabilitation Act Section 504 (1973) law is ensure that no qualified individual with a disability in the United States, shall solely by reason of his or her disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance or under any program or activity conducted by any Executive agency or by the United States Postal Service. -
The Education of All Handicapped Children Act (1975)
The Act which was signed in to law by President Gerald Ford was considered the “Bill of Rights” for children with disabilities and their families. The legislation incorporated six major components: 1) A free appropriate public education (FAPE), 2) The least restrictive environment (LRE), 3) An individualized education program (IEP), 4) Procedural due process, 5) Nondiscriminatory assessment, and 6)Parental participation which have changed education across the United States. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) - is to prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities and to ensure equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in employment, state and local government services, public accommodations and transportation. In addition, establishes requirements for telecommunications relay services. -
The No Child Left Behind Act (2001)
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 was George Bush's education-reform bill created to significantly increase the federal role in holding schools responsible for the academic progress of all students and put a special focus on ensuring that states and schools boost the performance of English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and special education students. Teachers are required to be highly qualified in their subject areas. -
Assistive Technology Act of 2004
The Act seeks to provide AT to persons with disabilities, so they can more fully participate in education, employment, and daily activities on a level playing field with other members of their communities. The Act covers people with disabilities of all ages, all disabilities, in all environments (early intervention, K-12, post-secondary, vocational rehabilitation, community living, aging services, etc.). AT devices can be low tech, medium tech or high tech.
(https://youtu.be/4LoruMunlg0) -
IDEA (2004) Reauthorization
The law was created to make changes in following areas:
methods to identify students with learning disabilities, early intervening services, highly qualified teachers, discipline, and meeting accessibility standards. The law ensures that all children with disabilities have access to a free appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living. -
Response to Intervention (RTI)
RTI is a process used by educators to help students who are struggling with a skill or lesson; every teacher will use interventions (a set of teaching procedures) with any student to help them succeed in the classroom. This process is not just for children with special needs or a learning disability.
(http://glec.education.iupui.edu/assets/files/Read%20up%20on%20RTI.pdf)
