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Development of Perkins School for the Blind
This school was founded in Boston, Massachusetts and was one of the first institutions dedicated to teaching the visually impaired (Perkins, 2023). They played an important role in the development of specialized education for visually impaired students. -
Creation of the Council for Exceptional Children
The Council for Exceptional Children was created to support the education of children with disabilities and exceptionalities. They have helped the special education field through advocacy, professional standards, and research (CEC, n.d.). -
Brown v. Board of Education
This Supreme Court case "ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional" (Shandrick & Vanbergeijk, 2021). This case started the movement for many equal educational opportunities, including the inclusion of students with disabilities. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
This law was created to minimize the achievement gap in education and make adjustments for special education services (Ballotpedia, n.d.). This was a big step to support disadvantaged students and was an example for future legislation. -
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
This law "prohibited discrimination based on disability in any program receiving financial assistance from the federal government" (Shandrick & Vanbergeijk, 2021). This law established that students with disabilities had rights to equal education. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA)
This act made sure that free and appropriate public education (FAPE) was available to children with disabilities and mandated individual education programs (IEPs) (Shandrick & Vanbergeijk, 2021). This was very important for ensuring access to education. This act eventually changed into the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). -
Board of Hendrick Hudson Central School District v. Rowley
This Supreme Court case explained that the EHA required schools to provide basic education, not the best possible education (Shandrick & Vanbergeijk, 2021). This helped to define the educational benefits required under special education law. -
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
This law "prohibited discrimination based on disability in all public and private sectors, including education" (Shandrick & Vanbergeijk, 2021). This expanded the rights of individuals with disabilities from just education to include employment and public areas. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Amendments
The changes to IDEA required that students with disabilities be included in general education classrooms and the importance of educational standards (Shandrick & Vanbergeijk, 2021). This was a huge change for inclusion and higher expectations for students with disabilities. -
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
This law wanted to use standardized testing and accountability to improve the educational outcomes for all students (Shandrick & Vanbergeijk, 2021). This led to a focus on performance and that impacted how special education services were being taught and assessed. -
IDEA Reauthorization
The reauthorization showed the importance of "early intervention, inclusion, and transition services for students with disabilities" (Shandrick & Vanbergeijk, 2021). The changes enhanced the rights and services that are available for students with disabilities. -
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
This act gave states more flexibility in education policies while keeping accountability for students with disabilities (U.S. Dept. of Education, 2024). This was a more balanced approach and replaced the No Child Left Behind Act.