-
Period: to
History of Special Education
-
The American Asylum for the Education and Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb
The first school of it's kind, the American Asylum for the Education and Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb was founded in Hartford, Conneticut in May 1817.Here children with disabilities could practice an array of studies, including religion, without suffering the insensitivities of regular schooling. When the school opened in May of 1817, it only had 7 students enrolled. -
First Groups to Advocate for Special Education
In the 1870's the first groups to advocate for special education were created by instructors and parents. The first group created by instructors was known as the American Association of Instructors of the Blind. The first group created by parents was known as the American Association on Mental Deficiency. Educators and parents alike began to speak out about the treatment their children deserved and the civil rights movement later sparked this issue further. -
Special Eduation Classes
The first classes for special education students were created in the 1920's, though these classes were only common in major cities. Special education classrooms were created for children deemed unable to perform academically at the rate of their peers. Once these classrooms were created, research was done to find out how useful these classrooms really were. -
The Arc
The Arc or the National Association for Retarded Citizens advocacy group was created in 1950 by parent adovcates who were deeply concerned with the education that their disabled children were recieving. What started as a small advocacy group has now grown into a human rights protection group spanning across the US. -
Federal Governmnt Involvement
In the late 1950's, the federal government began thie first involvement in special education. Federal funds now began to be allocated for education of children with disabilties. The federal government became formally involved with research pertaining to special education classrooms as well training programs for professionals in the special education field. -
504 Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation is one of the first disbailitity civil rights laws that prevented discrimination against individiual with disabilties. Specifically, this law prohibits the discrimination of a person with diabilities in federally funded programs. This law set the stage for the more specific laws to come. Link text -
EAHCA
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA) was passed by congress in 1975. This act made sure that public schools provided children with disbailities an equal opportunity for education. The act also required public schools to evaulte children with disabilties appropriately and devise an education plan that closel matched the education of a nondiabiled child and one that both the parent and the school agreed upon. -
Americans With Disabilties Act (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilties Act is an all encompassing act for all people with disabilties. This act prevents discimination against the disabled in public education, jobs, public businesses, etc. Though this is a far reaching act, it does not provide the protections for children at school such as the 504 and IDEA. Link text -
IDEA
In 1997, IDEA requires the inclusion of students with disabilities in statewide and districtwide assessments, measurable IEP goals and objectives, and functional behavioral assessment and behavior intervention plans for students with emotional or behavioral needs. There are six principles of IDEA; free and appropraite public education, least restricitive enviroment, an IEP is provided, proper evaluations done without discrimination, due process, and a no rejection clause based on disabiltiy. -
No Child Left Behind Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
Rewritten by President Obama, this act is an educational reform aimed at helping the poor children in the public system. However; this act does so much more than that. This act established learning standards that have to be met by all public schools and regulations have been put in place to hire professionals that are highly qualified. All of these regulations include children with disabilities.
