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Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, Laurent Clerc and Dr. Mason Cogswell opened the Connecticut Asylum for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons. It started with seven students including Alice Cogswell, daughter of Dr. Mason Cogswell. Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet was sent to Europe to recruit support and found Laurent Clerc in Paris convincing him to return to Connecticut to open the school in a rented hotel in Hartford.
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Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe founded the first school for the visually impaired in the United States. It was opened in Boston, Massachusetts and was the first the first school for the blind that went beyond custodial care teaching independence and education including literacy. Helen Keller attended this school and it is still in existence. See website here: https://www.perkins.org/founders/
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U.S. Federal education law used to attain broader educational access and enacted during President Lyndon B. Johnson's term in office. Used to direct federal funds to schools showing high incidences of poverty. Provided funding to support students with disadvantages including disabilities.
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Class action lawsuit filed by PARC (Pennsylvania Association of Retarded Citizens) which ruled that children with intellectual disabilities had to have access to a free public education. Forced training in public education settings instead of just excluding children from schools. The classification of 'uneducable' was removed.
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Required that children be provided access to a FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education). First federal law to prevent discrimination against any persons with disabilities in federally funded programs. This ensured that schools were required to provide accommodations in general education settings. See video below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxx6rQqIjpY
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Education of Handicapped Assessments (EHA) expanded free access to public education to children with disabilities below age five. Expanded early intervention programs for children from birth to age 2 by incentivizing. Improved inclusion and parental rights.
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Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) federal law enacted. Autism and TBI (Traumatic brain injury) were added. Renamed to change handicapped to individuals with disabilities. Helped to provide inclusion in general education settings.
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Federal law amendment to support IEP (Individualized Education Plan) specifics. For example, including measurable yearly goals to improve access to general education. Students were also allowed to take part in assessments with appropriate accommodations.
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Individuals with Disabilities Act 2004 (IDEA 2004) combined no child left behind act with federal special education law to continue inclusion based support. Focused on research-based practices and required highly qualified teachers in special education settings. Allowed some members of IEP (Individualized Education Plan) meetings to be excused to streamline the process and reduce the administrative burden.
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Signed into law Dec 2015 and gives States more freedom to design accountability systems that best meet their needs. Reduced federal role in K-12 allowing States to have more flexibility. Encouraged alternate measures besides standardized tests as indicators such as spending and state report cards on these measures are provided to parents.