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1817 - First Permanent School for the Deaf
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet was an American worker that would help teach rural children about geography, history, and the bible. While encountering a troubled girl, he wanted to help her. With the help of the community, he decided to travel to Europe and study how to teach students who are deaf. Thomas then went to France to study at the deaf school. When he came back, he brought another teacher which would then lead to the opening of the first school for the deaf in the United States. (Enders) -
1853 - Pennsylvania Training School for Feeble-Minded Children
The Elwyn Institute was one of the first American schools for children with disabilities. The institute was originally a private section, but received enough funding to become a public insitiute. One major focus of teaching was including scientific methods and treatments. Along with training children with disabilities, they were pushing to change the viewpoint of society from seeing the disability as a family concern and more of a society responsibility at the state level.(Caust-Ellenbogen 2014) -
1939 - The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children
David Wechsler was an American Psychologist that is mainly known for developing intelligence scales. The first scale that he published was the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS). This scale was then altered for children, the WISC, as a clinical tool. By using the scale, schools would be able to see patterns in the students' tests to be able to diagnose ADHD or other learning disabilities. This tool has been changed throughout the years and is used today. (New World Encyclopedia, 2022) -
1963 - Learning Disabilities Term
While speaking at an education conference, Professor Kirk, from the University of Illinois, defined the term "learning disabilities". This term alone impacted many social policies and frameworks for new academic language for the future. The term also helped form the Learning Disabilities Association of America association. Another note about Kirk is how he was appointed Director of the Office of Education Division of Handicapped Children after the speech. (VanBlaricum) -
1975 - Public Law 94-142
Once Congress enforced the Education for All Handicapped Children Act EHA, there was progress made in the services for early intervention and special education. The EHA also provided appropriate public education for special needs and assured that the rights of both students and parents are protected. This implementation in schools would then provide help to more than 1.8 million children with disabilities since signed into Congress. (IDEA 2022) -
1990 - Public Law 101-476
Public Law 101-476 would become a revision of the EHS and was renamed as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). With this addition, it would include traumatic brain injuries and autism to the disabilities categories. Along with that, this law would implement Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and would allow planning to start at the age of fourteen. There are multiple assessment tools and programs to help the students. (Brain Injury Association 2020) -
2004 - IDEA
This new law under the Busch Administration was an updated process from Public Law 101-476 and 94-142. With that, there were specific details about Individualized Education Plans for students with disabilities implemented the following July. One major goal of the law was implementing written measurable goals for the student for the future of the student. The IQ scale also does not determine if the student does qualify for learning disabilities. (Brain Injury Association 2020)