-
Jan 1, 1100
1100
The Medieval period was a rather calmer time for people with intellectual disabilities. They often worked beside their family members, were cared for by clergy, and taken care of by the Christian Church. -
Period: Jan 1, 1100 to
Antiquity Era
During the Antiquity Era, intellectual disabilities were looked upon as a blight to society and were often mistreated. Most were sent to the Church to be cared for by the clergy, paraded around as jesters, or beaten. -
Jan 1, 1247
1247
The institution known as St. Mary of Bethlehem was built in Britain. In this institution, patients were often beaten and tortured. The facility misconstrued the patients' disabilities as misbehavior. -
Jan 1, 1376
1376
In Hamburg, Germany, people with intellectual disabilities were often locked up and put on display. This allowed for the masses and those who were in power, to establish the norms for intellectual disabilities. -
Jan 1, 1500
1500
People with intellectual disabilities were paraded around as jesters or court fools. Some people were even stereotyped as being feeble-minded, but in possession of special powers. This led to the victimization of many people with intellectual disabilities. -
1700
A hospital in Bethlehem that housed patients with intellectual disabilities, charged visitors to observe the patients. They were mistreated, beaten, and starved. -
Period: to
Emergence and Early Disillusionment of a Field Era
People with intellectual disabilities were mocked, observed, and mistreated. However, Jean-Marc Itard changed the idea of what an intellectual disability meant. He used systematic instruction on a boy that he found in the wild to correct his behavior and teach him skills. Others followed suit and helped to create instructional needs for special education. -
1799
Jean-Marc Itard found a boy named Victor who he trained for several years. Victor most likely suffered from a disability of some sort as he was described as ‘savage and wild’. Itard trained Victor with systematic instruction and made strides in his efforts to educate him. This helped to establish the instruction for people with special needs and disabilities. -
1848
Edouard Seguin studied under Jean-Marc Itard. He established a training program that integrated muscular, imitative, nervous, and reflective physiological functions. Many of these practices are still in current practice with regard to instruction of people with special needs/disabilities. -
1850
Hervey Wilbur established a school for children with disabilities in New York. These schools admitted people with mild intellectual disabilities and were relatively close to the students’ homes. These schools were the first of their kind in educating students with disabilities. -
1870
An improved attitude towards people with intellectual disabilities seemed to be gaining strength. British asylums would educate those who it deemed were educable. Those that were not, were confined to the workhouse. Some received specialized training to be able to go into the workforce. -
1905
Theodore Simon and Alfred Binet developed a mental test to determine which students might benefit from specialized education. The test determined that a large number of French soldiers had an 'intellectual disability' and this caused widespread panic among the populace. -
Period: to
Facilities-Based Orientation Era
During the Facilities-Based Orientation Era, scientists focused on researching tests that could determine if a person had an intellectual disability. Various acts and laws also came into being for the first time, allowing people with intellectual disabilities to receive job training, join the workforce, and receive a free and appropriate education. -
1920
The Vocational Rehabilitation Act provided job training to people with an intellectual disability. This allowed people with intellectual disabilities to join the workforce. -
1954
The Cooperative Research Act provided money for research that focused on intellectual disabilities. This would provide one of the first efforts into researching intellectual disabilities. -
1955
A Supreme Court decision on segregation, Brown V. Board of Education, determined that it was unlawful to discriminate against a grouping of individuals for any reason. This landmark decision allowed other laws such as FAPE and IDEA to be enacted. -
1965
President Lyndon Johnson signed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act into law. This new law guaranteed new grants for low-income areas/students, supplies, books, special education centers, and scholarships. -
Period: to
Services-Based Orientation Era
During this era, new acts and laws were enacted to give grants to needy children for school supplies and special education centers. De-institutionalization also began and it allowed for those with disabilities to return back into the community. -
1970
The process of deinstitutionalizing begins due to horrendous living conditions. Institutions start to close and allow people with special needs to return to the community -
1975
PL 94-142 is the law coined the Education of All Handicapped Children Act. This law guaranteed that all children with disabilities would be guaranteed a free and appropriate public education. -
1992
Mental retardation’s definition is revised. This helped to improve identification of students and revise terminology related to special education and disabilities at a later date. -
Period: to
Supports-Based Orientation Era
This era showcases a change in terminology as it pertains to intellectual disabilities. The Federal terminology changed from 'mental retardation' to 'intellectual disabilities. It helped to remove the negative connotation. -
2010
The Federal definition of Intellectual Disabilities is published and replaced the term, mental retardation. This helped to remove the negative connotation associated with the term.