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The American School for the Deaf was founded in Hartford, Connecticut, by Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet. This was the first permanent school in the U.S. for students with disabilities. It paved the way for formal education opportunities for deaf children and established the importance of specialized instruction. -
The Perkins School for the Blind opened in Boston, Massachusetts, as the first U.S. school for students with visual impairments. It emphasized literacy for blind students through braille, providing essential access to education and demonstrating that students with disabilities could succeed academically. -
Providence, Rhode Island, introduced the first public school class for students with disabilities. This was the beginning of special education within public schools, moving education for exceptional learners out of private institutions and into the broader community school system. -
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that “separate but equal” schools were unconstitutional. Although this case focused on racial segregation, it set the stage for special education by reinforcing that segregation in education is unequal, influencing future laws for students with disabilities.
https://www.oyez.org/cases/1940-1955/347us483 -
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the ESEA to provide federal funding to improve schools. It emphasized equal access to quality education, particularly for disadvantaged and special needs students, laying the foundation for inclusive education and support programs nationwide. -
Section 504 was the first U.S. disability civil rights law. It prohibited discrimination against individuals with disabilities in any program receiving federal funds. For schools, this meant providing accommodations and ensuring students with disabilities had equal access to education. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/oasam/centers-offices/civil-rights-center/statutes/section-504-rehabilitation-act-of-1973 -
This law guaranteed free appropriate public education (FAPE) for students with disabilities and required schools to educate them in the least restrictive environment (LRE). It became the foundation of modern special education and the precursor to IDEA.
https://youtu.be/PJgk99BJ15Y?si=9Q-kNQD1GnJx2Xrw -
EAHCA was reauthorized as IDEA. It expanded services by requiring individualized transition plans, adding autism and traumatic brain injury as categories, and strengthening inclusion in general education classrooms with support and services. -
NCLB emphasized accountability in education. It required that students with disabilities participate in statewide assessments, ensuring schools were accountable for their progress. This law pushed schools to provide inclusive opportunities and equal access to curriculum. -
ESSA replaced NCLB but continued its emphasis on accountability and access for all students, including those with disabilities. ESSA supports inclusion in general education classrooms and ensures equity in educational opportunities across diverse populations.