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The American Asylum for the Deaf Formally know as The American Asylum for the Education and Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb, the first permanent U.S. school for the deaf, was founded in Hartford, CT. Now the American School for the Deaf, it was a major step in special education, challenging the belief that those with sensory disabilities were ineducable this was a crucial early milestone in the history of special education. -
This landmark 1954 Supreme Court case, although focused on racial segregation, established the fundamental principle that "separate but equal" is inherently unequal. This ruling created a powerful legal precedent that was later used by disability rights advocates to argue that segregating students with disabilities was unconstitutional. By paving the way for the integration of all students, it was a foundational step toward the inclusive education system we have today. -
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) was a key part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty. It increased federal funding for public education and, for the first time, provided direct federal grants for the education of children with disabilities. This laid the financial groundwork for later special education laws. -
The Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children (PARC) v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania case was a landmark ruling that challenged a law denying education to children with intellectual disabilities. The court decided that all children with intellectual disabilities were entitled to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). This decision established the Model for the right to education for all children with disabilities. -
The Mills v. Board of Education case ruled that a school district cannot deny a public education to any child with a disability, regardless of a lack of funds. The decision established that if a public education is provided, it must be available to all students. https://youtu.be/JfGmK1R0jR0?si=UIj_vSpYsvdXEMOX -
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (P.L. 94-142) mandated a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) for children with disabilities. This landmark law introduced the Individualized Education Program (IEP) and the principle of a least restrictive environment (LRE), ensuring students are taught with their non-disabled peers as much as possible. -
In Board of Education v. Rowley, the Supreme Court defined a free and appropriate public education as one that provides a student with educational benefit. The court ruled against the parents of a deaf student, Amy Rowley, stating that schools were not required to provide a sign language interpreter to maximize her potential, but only to offer a beneficial education. -
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law that prohibits any kind of discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. This law ensures that we are all treated equally despite our challenges. -
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is a federal law that guarantees a free, appropriate public education for students with disabilities. This law gives parents of children with disabilities a strong voice to advocate for their kids. (IDEA) Ensures that all children regardless of their learning disabilities receive a fair and equal education and that school helps prepare them for life after school provided personalized learning plans for all students that may need the extra help. -
The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) was a major reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. This act forced schools to implement standardized testing for all students, Holding Schools accountable for student proficiency. NCLB mandated that students with disabilities be included in statewide assessments. This increases focus on schools taking accountability for students with disabilities. https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/no-child-left-behind-an-overview/2015/04