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1817 First Special Education School
Hartford, CT opens the first special education school in the United States-the American Asylum for the Education and Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb. The schools has be renamed and is now called the American School for the Deaf. -
1876 American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities is founded and still exists today. The AAIDD promotes research, guides policy, and strives to ensure that people with disabilities are afforded universal human rights. Link Text -
1918 Compulsory Laws
By 1918, all states had compulsory laws to protect children in education, requiring that all children attend school. -
1954 Brown v. Board of Education
Oliver Brown filed suit against the Board of Education in 1951, after his daughter, Linda Brown, was denied entrance to Topeka’s all-white elementary schools. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that segregation in schools was unconstitutional. This would later pave the way for education of all students regardless of race or disability. -
1971 The Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children (PARC) v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children (PARC) v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ruled in favor of students with disabilities in state-run institutions. It called for the placement of students in publicly funded school settings where their educational needs would be met. Link Text -
1971 Mills v. Board of Education
In 1971, the U.S. District Court for District of Colombia ruled it unlawful to deny students the right to publicly funded educational opportunities. At the time, students were being denied access to education because of behavioral issues, hyperactivity, emotional disturbances, and intellectual disabilities. Link Text -
1973 Rehabilitation Act
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibited persons with disabilities from being discriminated against in programs by federal agencies, in programs receiving federal financial assistance, in federal employment and in the employment practices of federal contractors. The law also ensures services, training, and other supports for persons with disabilities. Link Text -
1975 Education for All Handicapped Children Act
President Gerald Ford signs the Education for All Handicapped Children Act in 1975 (Public Law 94-142). This allowed public schools federal funding for the education of students with mental or physical disabilities. The law also gave rights to parents in the decision making process, and ensured students were in the least restrictive setting with interaction with non-disabled peers to the maximum degree possible. -
1982 Board of Education v. Rowley
In 1982, the first special education case to reach the U.S. Supreme court was The Board of Education of Hendrick Hudson Central School District v. Rowley. The ruling gave lower courts a standard to follow when deciding what a free and appropriate public education amounts to. Link Text -
1986 Handicapped Children's Protection Act
In 1986, President Reagan signed the Handicapped Children's Protection Act, which amended the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975. It includes clauses regarding young children and identification and intervention programs. It also gives more rights to parents, keeping them informed and involved in the decision making process. -
1990 Public Law 101-476 and IDEA
Significant changes to the Education for All Handicapped Children were made. Autism and traumatic brain injury were added as categories, and a transition plan for life after schooling had to be addresses as part of a student's IEP. The legislation was renamed Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). -
2002 No Child Left Behind Act
This act aimed to close the achievement gap by supporting standards-based reform, create accountability, use scientific research, determine measurable goals, and improve student outcomes. -
2004 IDEA
Congress amended IDEA to include key changes such as outlining additional procedures for identifying children with learning disabilities, the highly qualified teachers to teach students, a summary of academic and functional performance,
