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Perkins School for the Blind was founded
The first American school for children who are blind was founded in Massachusetts by John Dix Fisher, who was inspired to create a school for the blind after visiting the National Institute for the Blind in Paris.
https://www.perkins.org/ -
University for the Deaf was founded
The Gallaudet University was established in Washington, D.C. It started as a grammar school for students who were blind or deaf. Then it became the first higher education institution with all programs and services tailored for deaf or hard-of-hearing students. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAkGPcbI-ag -
CEC was established
The Council for Exceptional Children was founded by Elizabeth E. Farrell and a group of educators who attended a summer session at the Teachers College at Columbia University. CEC established the professional standards for Special Education. Today, CEC is considered one of the leading organizations advocating for individuals with special needs. https://exceptionalchildren.org/ -
Brown v. Board of Education
The U.S. Supreme Court case ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, even if the segregated schools had the same quality. Brown v. Board of Education is considered a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court and set the stage for future reforms in education. -
ESEA was signed into law
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) was signed into law, emphasizing equal access to education and including provisions for children with disabilities. ESEA's goal was to improve educational equity for students from lower-income families by providing federal funds to school districts serving poor students. https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/programs/education/elementary-and-secondary-education-act-of-1965/ -
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a federal law that prohibits organizations and employers from discriminating against individuals based on their disability to have access to programs that receive federal funding, including public schools. It was this act that defined the rights of individuals with disabilities to benefits programs and services. -
TASH was founded
In the same year that EHA was passed, the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps (TASH) was founded to promote equity and inclusion for people with severe disabilities. Also, TASH aims to eliminate the social injustices that impact human rights.
https://tash.org -
EHA was passed
In 1975, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA), also known as Public Law 94-142 was passed. It required all public schools to provide free and appropriate education to students with disabilities. EHA was the first to introduce the concept of IEPs or Individualized Education Programs. -
ADA was enacted
In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was proposed and passed as law. This civil rights law prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in many areas, including employment, public accommodations, and education. It extended the protection against discrimination to the state and local government services programs, and activities. -
IDEA replaced EHA
Also in 1990, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) replaced the EHA, providing additional services, rights, and protections for students with disabilities. It promoted research and technology development to support individuals with disabilities and provided more details on transition programs for students after high school. IDEA shifted the focus from the disability to the individual.