Special Education Timeline

By mcelweed
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    Early Speical Education

    The first Special Education programs were delinquency prevention programs for “at risk” children who lived in poor neighborhoods. Urban school districts designed manual training classes as a supplement to their general education programs.

  • Formal Deaf Education Began in the United States.

    The first permanent school for the deaf in America began in Connecticut in April 15, 1817.
    This marked the first efforts to educate people with disabilities.

  • Council for Exceptional Children

    Council for Exceptional Children was established as a national organization advocating for students with special needs, including those with disabilities.

  • Private Special Education Programs

    Programs for children with specific learning disabilities (called “brain injury,” “minimal brain dysfunction,” and otherterms) became more common in the 1940's. However, most early special education programs were private and/or residential. The quality and availability of programs varied between and within states. Good special education programs were rare and difficult to access. For most children with disabilities, special education programs were simply not available.

  • ARC Founded

    An organization founded to provide resources and advocacy of children who were diagnosed with mental retardation and provide opportunities to support the children and their families to live normal lives with support.

  • Brown v. Board of Education

    Establishes the right to an education for all children regardless of race, class, or ability.

  • the Division of Handicapped Children and Youth

    President John F. Kennedy established the Division of Handicapped Children and Youth in the Office of Education

  • Elementary And Secondary Education Act

    The first federal grants program to fund education for children with disabilities in state-operated or state-supported schools and institutions.

  • Pennsylvania Assn. for Retarded Children v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (PARC)

    Instituted a law that requires educational placement decisions to include a process of parental participation and a means to resolve disputes.

  • Rehabilitation Act (Section 504)

    The first disability civil rights law to be enacted in the United States that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in programs that receive federal financial assistance

  • Education Of All Handicapped Children Act (Pl 94-142)

    Guarantees free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment . Mandates Individualized Education Programs with special education and related services designed to meet the needs of each child (aged 3-21) with disabilities, and "wherever possible" to be educated with children who do not have disabilities

  • Danielle was Born

  • Danielle Started Kindergarten

    I began attending Laurlwood Elementary School in Sunnyvale, CA

  • Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)

    Extends all civil rights protections to people with disabilities, including protection from discrimination in employment, transportation, public accommodations, telecommunications, and activities of state and local governments.

  • Danielle Started High School

    My family moved from Sunnyvale to Sebastopol and I attended Analy High School. I knew no one on my first day of High School - it was pretty miserable
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    Studies find state not complying with laws

    After examining compliance reports from 1994 to 1998, the National Council on Disability concluded that:
    36 states failed to ensure that children with disabilities are not segregated from regular classrooms.
    44 states failed to follow rules requiring schools to help students find jobs or continue their education.
    45 states failed to ensure that local school authorities adhered to nondiscrimination laws.

  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004

    Aligns closely with IDEA and No Child Left Behind Act, helps to ensure equity, accountability and excellence in education for children with disabilities

  • My Daughter Zelda was Born

    I gave birth to my first and only child, the light of my life. She is now 18 years old.

  • Zelda Starts School

    My Daughter started school at the Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts. I became a substitute teacher to teach at her school and found a love of teaching