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CT Asylum for Education
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, a teacher opened the first school in America designed to serve people with disabilities. At that time, “dumb” meant only “unable to speak”. Gallaudet met Abbot Sicard, who was head of the Royal Institution for Deaf-Mutes in Paris and studied with the school’s faculty in order to come back to America and open up his own school. -
Council for Exceptional Children
The Council for Exceptional Children is the first advocacy group devoted to improving educational experience for children with disabilities. This council is one of the largest internationally recognized special education advocacy group. The main objective of this council is o ensure children with special needs receive FAPE. visit CEC website -
Bradley Home
This hospital was the first psychiatric hospital for children in the United States. It was founded by the Bradley family who had a daughter diagnosed with breast cancer that left her with epilepsy and intellectual disability. Established in East Providence, Rhode Island. -
Architectural Barriers Act
The Architectural Barriers Act requires access to facilities that are designed, built, altered, or leased with Federal funds be accessible to the public. This Act ensures that certain building/facilities that are federally funded are designed to be accessible for people with disabilities. The standards are developed by an Access Board that makes sure to enforce this act by investigating complaints of certain facilities. Watch clip -
PARC v. Commonwealth
PARC v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was the first right-to-education case in the United States, to overturn the Pennsylvania state law that allowed public schools to deny services to children with disabilities. When the case was settled, the state agreed to provide a free public education for children with developmental delays. This helped pave the way for the federal legislation law known as IDEA. -
EAHCA (PL 94-142)
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act required public schools receiving federal funding to provide children with disabilities equal access to education in the least restrictive environment. After World War II, a wave of activism (Civil Rights Movement) came about which would change rights for people with disabilities. This act has been expanded and strengthened over time and is later renamed the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). -
Handicapped Children’s Protection Act
The Handicapped Children’s Protection Act was passed as an amendment to the Education for All Handicapped Children Act to provide payment for any legal fees for those who successfully sue under the Act. The 40th president of the United Stated, Ronald Reagan signed this protection law in 1986. Legislation was needed because of a Supreme Court ruling in 1984 (Smith v. Robinson) that individuals covered by EAHCA, cannot claim protection under any civil rights statutes. -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
On January 1, 1990, the IDEA replaced Education for All Handicapped Children Act. IDEA consists of disability categories that make students eligible to receive special education. The term “handicapped” became “with disabilities”. There was a significant change in attitude which focuses on person-first, not disability first. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life. This law ensures that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. Individuals with disabilities have the right to have equal accommodations in transportation, telecommunication services, government agencies, services, and occupations. -
Oberti v. Board of Education
This case established a test to determine whether a school district is in compliance with IDEA. Rafael Oberti, a child with a developmental delay was not given the assistance/aids to address his behavior and denied the child’s right to be in a mainstream classroom. The judicial decision was placement in a general education classroom with supplementary aids and service must be offered first before considering serrated placements.
