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The Birth of Dorothea Dix
Dorothea Dix is said to be "the most effective advocate of humanitarian reform in American mental institutions during the nineteenth century." During this time, everyone thought the mentally ill would never improve and were not capable of a normal life. Dix believed that by improving their quality of life, a positive effect would happen within their mental health. -
American School for the Deaf is founded
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc established the American Asylum for the Education and Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb (now known as the American School for the Deaf) in Hartford, Connecticut. This was the first permanent school for deaf students in the United States. Link text -
The National College for the Deaf and Dumb is founded
Edward Miner Gallaudet was the president of this college. It was located in Washington D.C. This establishment made it possible for students with these disabilities to earn college degree. -
AAMR is established
The AAMR (American Association on Mental Retardation) is the world's oldest and largest association that deals with mental retardation. This association works to promote progressive policies, sound research, effective practices, and universal rights for people that have these disabilities. -
The Act to Promote the Education of the Blind
This was the first federal act that benefitted blind students. This act provided federal funding to create books that were readable for blind students. -
The First Special Education Class
Elizabeth E. Farrell taught the first SPED class at Henry Street School in New York City. This class consisted of 19 students, 12 of which had been diagnosed with disabilities. These children had been taken out of every other school and class because of their disabilities. Farrell's idea of creating a SPED class for them gave them a second chance at education and the extra help they needed to succeed. -
Department of Special Education is established
This law requires that all students must be taught, even if they have a disability. Full special education classes were then formed all over the country. This gave these students the ability to be treated as equals to the students without disabilities. -
Training of Professional Personnel Act
This act is also known as PL 86-158. This allowed educators to be trained to educate children with disabilities. This helped these educators to become more educated and professional, which better benefited the children' education they were receiving. -
Learning Disabilities Association of America is created
This all began at a conference called "Exploration into the problems of Perceptually Handicapped Child." At this conference, parents a trained professionals worked together to create a second chance for students that had never had one before. This provided frameworks for legislation, theories, diagnostic procedures, training models, and educational practices that were needed in order to help children with disabilities succeed. -
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act is created
This act was signed by President Ford. Under this act, the families of all students are permitted access to all of their child's information that is collected and maintained by the school. For SPED students, this gave their families the opportunity to better understand their child's problems, strengths, and weaknesses. This opens the door to extra help at home from the families. This also helped to create acceptance within the family about the disability.
