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First Special Education School
In 1817 the first special education school in the United States, the American Asylum for the Education and Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb (now called the American School for the Deaf), was established in Hartford, Connecticut, -
The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
AAIDD was founded in 1876 by Edouard Seguin, M.D. It is the world's oldest, trans-disciplinary, professional organization devoted to intellectual disability. It advocates for the equality, dignity, and human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and for their full inclusion and participation in society.
http://www.aaiddjournals.org/?code=aamr-site -
First Public Special Education Class
Rhode Island opened the first public special education class in the U.S. in 1896. As teachers in public schools became aware of the increasing numbers of students with learning disabilities who were labeled "backward" or "feebleminded," they called for special classes and teachers to educate them. -
Council for Exceptional Children
The International Council for the Education of Exceptional Children was organized by a group of administrators and supervisors in 1922. Their mission is dedicated to advancing the success of children with exceptionalities. They accomplish this through advocacy, standards, and professional development. -
The National Association for Retarded Citizens was founded
The National Association for Retarded Citizens was founded in 1950. It worked to create a more positive public perception of children with mental retardation and to assert to parents and others the potential of people with mental retardation. The Arc also worked to procure services for children and adults who were denied day care, preschool, education and work programs.
http://mn.gov/mnddc/parallels/five/5a/parents-organizing.html -
The Maternal and Child Health and Mental Retardation Planning Amendment to the Social Security Act
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 retardation. The amendment incorporated grants to enable states to update their intellectual disabilities programs. It also increased funding for prevention through maternity and infant care.
https://www.jfklibrary.org/JFK/JFK-in-History/JFK-and-People-with-Intellectual-Disabilities.aspx -
Special Olympics
Founded in 1968, by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-style sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. -
Public Law 94-142-The Education for All Handicapped Children Act
This act in 1975 required all public schools accepting federal funds to provide equal access to education and one free meal a day for children with physical and mental disabilities. Public schools were required to evaluate disabled children and create an educational plan with parent input that would emulate as closely as possible the educational experience of non-disabled students.
https://youtu.be/qn0TDGzHq_4 -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
In 1990, the United States Congress reauthorized Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA) and changed the title to IDEA (Public Law No. 94-142). Overall, the goal of IDEA is to provide children with disabilities the same opportunity for education as those students who do not have a disability. -
No Child Left Behind Act
Proposed by George W. Bush the No Child Left Behind required all public schools receiving federal funding to administer a statewide standardized test annually to ALL students. Schools that receive Title I funding through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 must make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in test scores.
http://www.nea.org/home/NoChildLeftBehindAct.html -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 has two primary purposes. The first purpose is to provide an education that meets a child’s unique needs and prepares the child for further education, employment, and independent living. The second purpose is to protect the rights of both children with disabilities and their parents.
