History Timeline of Special and Inclusive

Education EVENTS
(International)
• Prior to the 1950s there weren't any laws
that protected student with disabilities.
1940 In fact, students with disabilities were not
(Early Foundations of Special Education) welcomed in public schools. Many
students who faced learning challenges
often dropped out of school.

• during the 1950s the courts would often

rule in the school’s favor. Public schools
1950 did not have to accept any child with
(Department of Public Welfare v. Haas) disabilities. In 1958 the Supreme Court of
Illinois ruled that public schools did not
have to except any student with
disabilities due to their lack of ability to
learn in the typical classroom setting,

• In 1954 segregation in school was

declared unconstitutional and was
1954 eliminated in the case of Brown v. Board
(Early Influence on Inclusion) of Education. This ruling lead to
legislation fighting to provide a free
public education for all students including
those with disabilities. However, students
with disabilities were placed in a separate
classroom.

• In 1965 the Elementary and Secondary

Education Acted (ESEA) was passed. This
1970 Act protected and provided for students
(Elementary and Secondary Education Act) who were in need by providing free and
reduced lunch and easy access to school
recourse. This act was later transformed
into what is known as the Education of
the Handicapped Act (P.L. 91-230) in
1970.

• In 1917 the Pennsylvania Association for

Retarded Children (PARC) v.
1971 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania the state
(A Fight for Equality) was told that it was illegal to deny a child
of free appropriate public education
(FAPE) 

• Even though students with disabilities

 could now attend school, it wasn’t until
1975 when P.L.94-142(President Gerald
1975 Ford signed into law the Education for All
(Still Fighting) Handicapped Children Act) was passed
declaring the all with limitations would
receive a free appropriate public
education regardless of their disability.
All student with disabilities will be
identified and they will reap all the
benefits of a public education. This public
law also protected the rights of the
children and their parents. 
• in 1990 the Individuals with Disabilities
Act was passed (P.L 101-476). This law
expands the resources available to
1990 students with special needs such as social
(IDEA) workers and assistive technology. This
law also states that a transition program
be in play until the student reaches the
age of 16.

• Around 1990 students were able to be

mainstreamed into typical classrooms.
1991 This came shortly after the IDEA and
(Mainstreaming) allowed students with disabilities to be
placed in the least restrictive
environment (LRE).

• In 2002, President George W. Bush

signed into play No Child Left Behind
(NCLB). This law stated that school will he
2002 held responsible with the learning an
(Jump A dead) achievement of a student. However, if
schools did not improve, they were fined.

• Individuals with Disabilities Education

Improvement Act or P.L 108-446
2004 increased fund to provide intervention
(IDEIA) services. It also required that teachers all
meet special need requirements and
proper training.
References:

https://www.bartleby.com/essay/Children-With-Disabilities-In-The-1940s-PCLQQ35CGJB

https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/history-of-special-education-and-inclusive-education-timeline-
c1946433-a3f5-49af-a278-f4b18a4347bf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOEX1YnkPFg

https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/idea35/history/index_pg10.html

http://impactofspecialneeds.weebly.com/uploads/3/4/1/9/3419723/timeline_-
_the_history_of_special_education.pdf

https://www.preceden.com/timelines/326448-history-of-special-education

https://www.alleducationschools.com/blog/history-of-special-education/

https://www.sutori.com/en/story/the-history-of-special-education--NFE74RinMWp6fRsbqeYGbgrb