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American School for Deaf
The American School for Deaf was founded in 1817 in Hartford, Connecticut. It is the first permanent school for the deaf in the United States, and it has been providing quality education and social services to the deaf community for over 200 years. Today, the school works to provide the best educational and social opportunities for deaf and hard of hearing children and adults.
Active link for more information: https://www.asd-1817.org/ -
Law mandatory compulsory education
All children in Rhode Island are required by law to receive an education, and the government is responsible for providing it. This law is meant to minimize the amount of day labor children are exposed to. It is known as the Compulsory Education Law. -
First State to employ Compulsory law
Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to implement a compulsory education law. This law required children between the ages of 6 and 16 to attend a public or state-accredited private school for a predetermined period of time. Such mandatory schooling ensured that students received a basic level of education. -
Watson v. City of Cambridge
The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts ruled that a child may be expelled from school, regardless of any mental or social issues they may have. This includes those deemed “weak-minded” and those who make “noises”. The court stated that these issues do not prevent a student from being expelled. -
Compulsory Education
All states now require children aged 6 to 16 to receive compulsory education. Parents and advocates for educating children joined forces to ensure the law was enforced. This resulted in a unanimous mandate for all children to receive an education. -
Council for Exceptional Children
The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) works to ensure that children with disabilities and special gifts are properly supported in their education. To do this, the CEC has set standards, practices, and guidelines for highly qualified educators to follow. These standards help ensure that all students receive the best education possible. -
Brown v. Board of Education
The Supreme Court ruled that separating children in public schools on the basis of race was unconstitutional, overturning the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision. This decision established a precedent to end legally-sanctioned racial segregation in American schools. This case marked an important victory for civil rights in the United States. -
Rehabilitation Act
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is the first federal civil rights law to protect persons with disabilities from discrimination. It applies to any program conducted by a federal agency or receiving federal financial assistance. Under the law, people with disabilities can’t be discriminated against based on their disability. -
Education for all Handicapped Children Act
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act mandated that states provide a free, appropriate public education for all students with disabilities aged 3 to 18. Additionally, the Act added the classification of “specific learning disabilities”. This Act was a major milestone in the fight for educational rights for those with disabilities. -
Individuals with Disabilities Act/American Disability Act
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was formerly the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA). IDEA has been amended to include autism and traumatic brain injury. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law that protects individuals with disabilities.
Active video link: https://adata.org/learn-about-ada.