1902 The interest to educate Filipino children with disabilities was expressed through Mr.

Fred Atkinson,
the General Superintendent of Education

Special Education was formally started in the country by establishing the Insular School for the Deaf and
Blind in Manila

1926

The Philippine Association for Deaf was founded.

1927

The government established the Welfareville Children's Village, a school for people with mental
retardation in Mandaluyong.

1936

Mrs. Maria Villa Francisco. was appointed as the first Filipino Principal of the School for the deaf and the
Blind (SDB)

1945

The National Orthopedic Hospital School for the Crippled Children and Youth is established

1949

Quezon City Science High School was inaugurated for gifted students.
1950 PAD opened a school for the children with hearing impairment

1954 The first week of August was declared as Sight Saving Week

1956 Special classes for the deaf in regular class were implemented

1958 The American Foundation for Overseas Blind opened its regional office in Manila

1962 The Manila Youth Rehabilitation Center was opened.

1964 The Quezon City Schools Division followed suit with the establishment of the Quezon City Science
High School for gifted students.

1967 The Bureau of Public Schools organized the National Committee on Special education

1969 Classes for socially maladjusted children were organized at the manila Youth Reception Center

1971 DECS issued a memorandum on Duties of the Special Education Teachers for the blind

1974 The First National Conference in the Rehabilitation of the Disabled was held at the Social Security
Building

1953 The Elshie Gaches Village was established in Alabang to take care of the abandoned and orphaned
children and youth with physical and mental handicaps.

1955 Members of Lodge No. 761 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks organized the Elkos
Cerebral Palsy Project incorporated
1957 The Bureau of Public Schools of the Department of Education and Culture created the Special
Education Section of the Special Subjects and Service Education.

1960 Some private college and universities started to offer special education courses on graduate school
curriculum

1963 With the approval of R.A. No. 3562. the training of DEC teacher scholars for blind children started
at the Philippine Normal University

1965 Marked the start of training programs for school administrators on the supervision of special
classes held at UP

1968 The teacher training program for teachers of exceptional children was held at the Philippine
Normal College for next ten years.

1970 Training of teacher for Children with behaviour problems started at the University of the
Philippines

1973 The juvenile and domestic Relations Court of Manila established the Tahanan Special School for
the socially maladjusted children and youth.

1975 The Division of Manila City Schools implemented the Silahis Concept of Special Education in public
elementary
1976 The national action plan for Education was promulgate which included provisions for in and out of
school exception children.

1978 Marked the creation of the National Commission Concerning Disabled Persons later renamed as
the National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons

1980 The School for the Crippled Children at the Southen Island Hospital in Cebu City was organized

1982 Three special school were opened: The Cebu State College Special high School for the Deaf

1984

Two special education programs were inaugurated: The Labangon Special Education Center Division
Center of Cebu City and Northern Luzon Association's Heinz Wolke School for the Blind at Marcos
Highway in Baguio City

1992 The summer training for teacher of the visually impaired started at the Philippine Normal
University

1995 The summer training for teachers of the hearing Impaired was held at PNU

1997

The first wheelaton-a-race for wheelchair users was the main event on the National Disability
prevention and Rehabilitation Week

1999 DECS order no. 33 "Implementation of administrative

order no. 101 directing the Department of Public Works and highways, the DECS and the CHED to
provide architectural facilities or structural feature for disabled persons in all state college, universities
and other buildings.

1977 MEC issued Department Order No. 10 that designated regional and division supervisors of special
education programs

1979

The Bureau of Elementary Education Special Education unit conducted a two-year nationwide survey if
unidentified exceptional children who were in school

1981

The United States Assemble proclaimed the observance of the international year of the disabled
children

1983 Batas Pambansa enacted the Accessibility Law, an act to enhance the nobility of the disabled
persons by requiring cars, building, institutions, establishments and public utilities to install facilities and
other devices

1990 The Philippine institute for the Deaf, an oral school for children with hearing impairment was
established

1993 DECS issued Order No. 14 that directed regional officers to organize the Regional Special Education
Council (RESC)

1996 Third week of January was declared as "Autism Consciousness week"

1998 DECS order No. 5 "Reclassification of Regular tear and principal items to SPED teacher and special
school's principal item.