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Perkins School for the Blind
Students were assigned a full time teacher who taught the deaf and blind how to read and write. Instruction included the use of braille, finger spelling and activities such as physical exercise, knitting,crocheting, and sewing. Anne Sullivan was credited by Maria Montessori, for developing methods in child-guided teaching techniques fundamental to the “Montessori” method.
(Perkins Schools for the Blind , 2017)
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Florida School for the Deaf and Blind
The Florida School for the Deaf and Blind, became the nation’s top deaf and blind school. Singer Ray Charles, and Jazz pianist Marcus Roberts were among the many successful attendees.Teachers are highly qualified teachers, trained specialists, accessibility and inclusion in all programs, early intervention-Montessori based, career development, and independent living skills, as well as athletic, recreational and performing arts. (Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind , 2014-2017) -
Council for Exceptional Children’s (CEC)
Was instrumental in developing, IDEA. CEC’s principles include the maintenance of challenging expectations, professional competence, inclusion, collegial relationships with service providers, relationships with families, using data, research and knowledge to inform practice, protecting and supporting (not harming) the physical and psyche of the individual, practicing and upholding law and ethics, advocating, and professional development. (Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), 2017) -
The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council
The Council was designed to help plan individual and family-centered supports for person with disabilities. A non-profit organization, promoting those with DD to exercise self-determination, opportunity, independence and interdependence, inclusion, productivity, and community integration. Advocacy also highlight the lifespan approach, which include transition and adaptation from birth, childhood, adulthood and old age. (Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc., 2017) -
Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act
Establishments that received government funds were not allowed to discriminate against individuals with disabilities, this included accommodations and accessibility to their buildings and employment opportunities. It was against the law to treat people with disabilities as anything else but equals. This law helped pave the way for upcoming laws, which further protected individuals in the educational setting as well. (United States Department of Labor) -
The Education for all Handicapped Children Act (EHA)
Many court cases brought to light the severity of the problem; the school system was unjustifiably denying education to students with disabilities for inexplicable reasons. As EHA passed public schools provided a free and appropriate education, that included children with disabilities regardless of their mental or physical disabilities, placing them in the least restricted environment (LRE).(Moody, 2012) -
The American with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Reasonable accommodations are to be made, along with access to equal opportunities in employment. Accessibility to new construction. Public transportation, including subways, commuter rails, Amtrak, are to be made accessible to people with a variety of needs. Telephone companies are required to service telecommunication relays for people with hearing and speech disabilities, 24 hours a day 7 days a week.(U.S. Department of Justice , 2017) -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA),formerly known as the Education for all Handicapped Children Act (EHA)
There are four parts to, part A-general provisions of the law, Part B-assistance for education, Part C-infants and toddlers from birth to age 3, Part D-National support programs and six elements: Individualized Education Program (IEP), Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), Appropriate Evaluation, Parent and Teacher Participation, and Procedural Safeguards.Link text
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The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
Signed into law by George W. Bush, schools are now responsible for meeting achievement targets or Adequate Yearly Progress AYP, there could be serious sanctions placed on the school. Now that schools are being held accountable for their student’s progress, schools have become motivated to push their students towards higher achievement goals. If the schools chose not to comply with the new law, the school would be at risk of loosing federal Title I money. (Klein, 2015) -
Window of Opportunity Act- Autism Compact
The senate bill was signed into law by Governor Charlie Crist, requiring insurance companies to provide coverage for services including screening, diagnosis, intervention, and therapy-occupational/ speech/ physical therapy, behavior analysis, and behavior assistant services for children five years or younger. (Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc., 2017)
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