Special Education History

By sharitoudis

  • The right for an education was not for all students.

    In the early 1800's student's with disabilities did not attend school unless their caregivers were able to privately pay.

  • Some progress was made for supporting student's with disabilities to attend school.

    Isolated schools, in rural areas, started to develop and allow for student's with disabilities to attend school.

  • Unfortunate Eugenic's movement.

    A major step back in history took place during the Eugenic's movement. Many individuals living with disabilities were institutionalized and they lived in deplorable conditions. Furthermore there was forced sterilization to control who was able to pro-create.

  • Indiana passes first eugenic sterilization in the United States.

    Indiana passes a statute allowing all individuals who were seen as "rapists, idiots and imbeciles living in state institutions," to be sterilized. Unfortunately 30 states and Puerto Rico followed this movement and states decided who was able to have children or not. To me this means that states decided what life they decided was worthy and what life they decided was unworthy.

  • Brown versus Board of Education

    In 1954 the Supreme Court ruled that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, which many people do not know also included the segregation of children living with a disability.

  • The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965

    State's were provided with direct assistance to help fund quality education for children with disabilities and children who were living in poverty.

  • Education of All Handicapped Children Act

    Guarantees free public education in the least restrictive environment, and for the child to be educated with children who do not have a disability wherever possible. Also mandates that individualized IEP's with special education and related services be designed to meet the needs of each individual child.

  • The American with Disabilities Act (ADA)

    A civil rights law called the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed in 1990 to protect individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life; including at school, at work, with transportation and in all other areas open to the general public.

  • Individual with Disabilities Education Act

    Several key amendments were made to the previous, Education for all Handicapped Children's Act. These amendments included allowing children to have access to the same curriculum as other students in the least restrictive environment. This allows for there to be expectations set for students while also allowing for students to learn social skills and collaborate with their peers.

  • Inclusion Movement

    There has been an ongoing Inclusion Movement allowing for students with disabilities to have the opportunity to participate with their peers in general ed classrooms.

  • Amendment to IDEA Act

    Congress amended IDEA to include early intervention for students and raised the standard for teachers who teach special education classes.

  • I began to work as a paraprofessional substitute for the Sonoma County Office of Education

    I registered to work for SCOE as a paraprofessional substitute in special education classrooms, which I did not know that these classrooms had existed before. I would have made this a career goal if I had known that this was a career option and I feel that people do not talk about special education even in 2023. I also know that there are so many open positions in special education classrooms and such a need, possibly this can be met if people start talking about and learning about special ed?

  • Received my AA-T in psychology and commenced online during the pandemic.

    I had already achieved an associate degree in social and behavioral sciences and in 2020 I commenced online during the pandemic for my AA-T in psychology. During the shut down I decided to go to the University, something that I never considered possible before, to achieve my BA in psychology.

  • I chose between my credential in PPS or education specialist.

    As graduation neared I collaborated with my advisor and professors about pursuing a degree in special education or PPS for school counseling. I did not want to be working with paperwork and academic planning, so I chose special education as I enjoy working directly with students.

  • Received my BA in psychology and minor in studio art.

    I commenced on-campus at Sonoma State University in May of 2023 with my BA in psychology and minor in art studio, I was recognized for Cum Laude honors.

  • I decided to add an ECSE-AA

    I subbed as a paraprofessional in a medically fragile preschool classroom. This is where I realized that I wanted to learn more about working with the younger population, particularly their emotional needs, their medical needs, and how to effectively communicate with them and their caretakers.