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1817 First Special Education School in Hartford, CT
The Connecticut Asylum for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons, the first permanent school for deaf Americans, opened in Hartford, Connecticut. At that time, "dumb" meant only "unable to speak" but in early America almost all those who were born deaf never learned to communicate with others and deaf people were often regarded as cognitively impaired.The initial impetus for a school for deaf people came from parents who wanted an education for their deaf children -
1876 American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities began in 1876. AAIDD, (formerly AAMR -- American Association on Mental Retardation) is the oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization of professionals and citizens concerned about intellectual and developmental disabilities, promoting progressive policies, sound research, effective practices, and universal human rights for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. -
1922 Council for Exceptional Children Established
First called the international council for exceptional children- organized by a group of administrators and supervisors attending the summer session at Teachers College, Columbia University, and their faculty members on August 10, 1922. The Council begins with 12 members. Elizabeth E. Farrell was the Founder and first President, CEC renamed The Council for Exceptional Children in 1958. Link text -
1963 JFK signs Mental Health Planning Amendment
President Kennedy signed the Maternal and Child Health and Mental Retardation Planning Amendment to the Social Security Act, the first major legislation to combat mental illness and intellectual disabilities. The amendment provided planning for care of individuals and preventative screenings during pregnancy. The amendment also provided funding for the construction of facilities related to the prevention, care, and treatment of people with intellectual disabilities. -
1968 Chicago Special Olympics
The first Special Olympics competition was held in Chicago’s Soldier Field for young people with intellectual disabilities. The goal was to put a bright—and very public—spotlight on ability, not disability. The 1968 event is described as “daybreak”—the early stirring of a global movement for people with intellectual disabilities. No longer trapped in the shadows, the Chicago Special Olympics Games made it possible for the athletes to compete and have fun—not to be stigmatized. -
1971 Mills v BOE of D.C
Parents of several school aged children with disabilities filed a lawsuit against the board of education in the District of Columbia claiming the board violated DC law and the United States Constitution by denying their children access to publicly funded education. Children were labeled by the school board as "exceptional" students having behavioral problems,mentally handicapped, emotionally disturbed or hyperactive and denied admission to public schools with no alternative placement -
1971 PARC v Commonwealth of Pennslyvania
Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children (PARC) sued the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for a state law that allowed public schools to deny education to children who had not “attained a mental age of 5 years”. This law had been used by the state to deny education to students considered too burdensome to integrate into school and classroom environments.PARC was the first significant challenge to laws around the country prohibiting or excluding students with mental disabilities. -
1975 Education of the Handicapped Act
In 1975 the United States Congress enacted the EHA or the Education for Handicapped Act into Public Law. The complete title for the act is the Education for All Handicapped Children Act.This ensures that handicapped children in public schools that receive federal funds for operation will get one free meal each school day and will have just access to an education.This included children with mental and physical disabilities. Link text -
Americans Disabilities Act of 1990
The nation's first comprehensive civil rights law addressing the needs of people with disabilities, prohibiting discrimination in employment, public services, public accommodations, and telecommunications. The ADA was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H.W. Bush. The ADA guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to participate in the mainstream of American life. -
No Child Left Behind Act of 2002
Signed into law by President George W. Bush, it significantly increased the federal role in holding schools responsible for the academic progress of all students. It put a special focus on ensuring that states and schools boost the performance of English-language learners, students in special education, and poor and minority children, whose achievement, on average, trails their peers. Under NCLB states must test students in reading and math in grades 3- 8 and once in high school. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law that makes available a free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities throughout the nation and ensures special education and related services to those children. The IDEA governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education, and related services to eligible infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities from birth to age 21 through parts B and C of IDEA.
