History of Special Education

In the early days of special education, children with disabilities were often institutionalized in large, state-run facilities.

The first special education school in the United States was founded in 1817 by Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet in Hartford, Connecticut.

The first public school for children with disabilities was founded in 1869 in Boston, Massachusetts.

The first compulsory education law for children with disabilities was passed in 1890 in Massachusetts.

The first federal law to provide funding for special education was the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was reauthorized in 1990.

IDEA requires that children with disabilities be provided with a free and appropriate public education, an individualized education program, and access to assistive technology.

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) replaced the No Child Left Behind Act.

ESSA includes a number of provisions related to special education, including increased funding for special education, a focus on early intervention, and a requirement for states to develop a comprehensive plan for serving children with disabilities.

The history of special education is a story of both progress and setbacks. While there have been many advances in the field, there is still much work to be done to ensure that all children with disabilities have access to a quality education.

The most important thing to remember about the history of special education is that it is a story of both progress and setbacks. While there have been many advances in the field, there is still much work to be done to ensure that all children with disabilities have access to a quality education.

We can ensure that all children with disabilities have access to a quality education by continuing to advocate for increased funding for special education, by working to ensure that all teachers are trained to work with students with disabilities, and by developing new and innovative ways to meet the needs of students with disabilities.

The future of special education is both bright and uncertain. On the one hand, there are many reasons to be optimistic about the future of special education. On the other hand, there are also a number of challenges that need to be addressed. Ultimately, the future of special education will depend on the actions that we take today.

You can help shape the future of special education by advocating for increased funding for special education, by working to ensure that all teachers are trained to work with students with disabilities, and by developing new and innovative ways to meet the needs of students with disabilities.