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First Special Education School
The American Asylum for the Education and Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb (or the American School for the Deaf) was established in Hartford, Connecticut by Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet. The school began using French influence for instruction but slowly developed into ASL. The American School for the Deaf was the model for education of the deaf for much of the 19th century. Timetoast -
Council for Exceptional Children
This organization was established by Elizabeth E. Farrell in order to help children with disabilities. She believed no child should be excluded, and that communities and schools should work together to help children with special needs. The CEC began with 12 students and is now the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving the success of children and youth with exceptionalities and/or gifts and talents. -
Brown v. Board of Education
This was a landmark education case that paved the way for future legislation to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities to attend and receive a public education. The Supreme Court ruled that school segregation was unconstitutional. This ruling would advocate for children with disabilities far into the future as seen today. -
ESEA
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act was enacted by President Lyndon B. Johnson. This act supported many initiatives to help low-income families across education programs, included provisions for free and reduced lunches, and contained a critical component for those with disabilities in which it encouraged states to create and improve programs for these students. -
LRE Principle
The principle of the Least Restrictive Environment emphasized that students with disabilities should be educated, or in education settings, to the maximum extent possible with their general education peers. This movement and principle fostered inclusivity and learning opportunities for both children with special needs and general education students. -
EAHCA
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act, later known as the Individuals with Disabilities Act, required states to provide a free and appropriate public education for children with disabilities (between ages 5 to 18). It also required, and introduced, individualized education programs, or IEP's) for these students. This act was the first defined least restrictive environment in which schools would make accommodations for certain children. -
ADA
The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities within the private sector. In addition, it protects equal opportunity to employment and public services, such as transportation and accommodations, for people with disabilities. It had significant impacts on promoting inclusivity in education as well. -
IDEA
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act renamed and replaced EAHCA and established a "people-first" language when referring to those with disabilities. This act extended special education services to include social work, assistive technology, and rehabilitation. It significantly expanded the rights and of those with disabilities and their parents, like the provision of transition services for these students. Timetoast -
NCLB
The No Child Left Behind Act was enacted in order to improve educational outcomes for all students, including those with disabilities. It covered a wide range of areas, such as improving teacher quality, supporting EL learners, and efforts to keep schools safe. The results of this act were increased accountability, school choice, and greater flexibility for states, school districts, and schools on how to allocate funds. -
RTI Framework
The Response to Intervention framework was designed to identify and support students with learning difficulties. This framework involves a multi-tiered system of interventions that provide targeted, specific needs to students based on their needs. It also is used to identify any potential learning challenge for a student and provide early intervention to increase chances of success.