The History of Special Education

Beginning development of Special Education

1850

In the early 1800s, some physicians, clergymen, and leaders of social change sought to change or diminish completely the neglectful and abusive treatment of people with disabilities. At this time, people with disabilities were institutionalized, confined in jails, or sent to almshouses. The physicians and social leaders advocated for special needs people to be treated in residential facilities in rural communities. They pushed the government for more funds for more specialized institutions.

The Child Study Movement

1900

In the late nineteenth century the government established foster homes and juvenile court systems for children. After this the child study movement became utilized due to the efforts of G. Stanley Hall. He is considered the founder of child psychology. Hall and other researchers started to study child development and its relation to education. By doing this child psychology was established in public education.

The Bradley Home

1931

The Bradley Home was the first psychiatric hospital for children in the United States. This hospital, located in Rhode Island, practiced psychodynamic treatment. This type of treatment created ideas for the classification and diagnosis of disabilities.

The start of the field of Special Education

1951

At the University of Illinois, the first institution for research on exceptional children opened. This became the focus point of special education eventually expanding its research. During this time, educators learned more about "the slow learner," what eventually was labeled as learning disabled.