HISTORICAL TIMELINE
BY: FLORENTINO JUAREZ
PIONEERS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION
JEAN-MARC GASPARD ITARD (1774-1838)
Father of Special Education
A French doctor who secured lasting fame because
oh his systematic efforts to educate an adolescent
thought to have severe intellectual disability.
Recognized the importance of sensory stimulation.
THOMAS HOPKINS GALLAUDET (1787-1851)
Taught children with hearing impairments to
communicate through a system of manual signs and
symbols.
Established the first institution for individuals with
hearing impairments in the U.S.
SAMUEL GRIDLEY HOWE (1801-1876)
An American physician and educator accorded
international fame because oh his success in teaching
individuals with visual and hearing impairments.
Founded the first residential facility for individuals
who are blind and was instrumental in inaugurating
institutional care for children with intellectual
disability.
DOROTHEA LYNDE DIX (1802-1887)
A contemporary of S.G. Howe, Dix was one of the
first Americans to champion better and more
humane treatment of individuals who are mentally ill.
Instigated the establishment of several institutions
for individuals with mental disorders.
LOUIS BRAILLE (1809-1852)
A French educator, himself, blind, who developed a
tactile system of reading and writing for people who
are blind.
His system, based on a cell of six embossed dots, is
still used today.
This standardized code is known as Standard English
Braille.
EDOUARD SEGUIN (1812-1880)
A pupil of Itard, Seguin was a French physician
responsible for developing teaching methods for
children with intellectual disability.
His training emphasized sensorimotor activities.
Helped found an organization that was the
forerunner of the American Association on
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
FRANCIS GALTON (1822-1911)
A scientist concerned with individual differences.
As a result of studying of studying eminent persons,
he believed that genius is solely the result of heredity.
Those with superior abilities are born, not made.
ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL (1847-1922)
A pioneering advocate of educating children with
disabilities in public schools.
As a teacher of students with hearing impairments,
Bell promoted the use of residual hearing and
developing the speaking skills of students who are
deaf.
ALFRED BINET (1857-1911)
A French psychologist who constructed the first
standardized development assessment scale capable
of quantifying intelligence.
The original purpose of this test was to identify
students who might profit from special education
and not to classify individuals on the basis of ability.
Originated the concept of mental age with his
student Theodore Simon.
MARIA MONTESSORI (1870-1952)
Achieved worldwide recognition for her pioneering
work with young children and youngsters with
intellectual disability.
First female to earn a medical degree in Italy.
Expert in early childhood education.
Demonstrated that children are capable of learning
at a very early age when surrounded with
manipulative materials in a rich and stimulation
environment.
LEWIS TERMAN (1877-1956)
An American educator and psychologist who revised
Binet’s original assessment instrument.
The result was the publication of the Stanford-Binet
of Intelligence in 1916.
Terman developed the notion of intelligence
quotiotient, or IQ.
Famous for lifelong study of gifted individuals
Grandfather of gifted education.
KEY DATES IN THE HISTORY OF SPECIAL
EDUCATION
1800’S
1817- Rev, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet becomes 1839- First teacher training program opens in
principal of the Connecticut Asylum for the Massachusetts.
Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb
1848- Samuel Gridley Howe establishes the
Persons, the first residential school in the U.S.
Massachusetts School for Idiotic and Feeble Minded
1829- Samuel Gridley Howe establishes the New Children.
England Asylum for the Blind.
1848- Dorothea Lynde Dix calls attention to the
1834- Louis Braille publishes the Braille code. shocking conditions of American asylums and prisons.
1800’S
1869- First public school class for children with
1897- National Education Association establishes a
hearing impairments opens in Boston.
section of teachers of children with disabilities.
1876- Edouard Seguin helps organized the first
1898- Elizabeth Farrell, later become the first
professional association concerned with intellectual
president of the Council for Exceptional Children,
disability, a predecessor of today’s American
begins a program for “backwards” or “slow learning”
Association on Intellectual and Development
children in New York City.
Disabilities.
1900’S
1904- Vineland Training School in New Jersey 1928- Seeing Eye dogs for individuals with blindness
inaugurates training programs for teachers of are introduced in the U.S.
students with intellectual disability.
1936- First compulsory law for testing the hearing of
1916- Lewis Terman publishes the Stanford-Binet school age children is enacted in New York.
Scale of Intelligence.
1949- United Cerebral Palsy association is founded.
1920- Teachers College, Columbia University begins a
training program for teachers of pupils who are 1950- National Association for Retarded Children is
gifted. founded (known today as The Arc of the U.S. or
simply The Arc).
1922- Organization that later would become the
Council for Expeptional Children is founded in New 1953- National Association for Gifted Children is
York City. founded.
1900’S
1963- Association for Children with Learning 1986- Education for the Handicapped Act
Disabilities (forerunner to learning Disabilities Amendments of 1986 (PL 99-457) are enacted;
Association of America) is organized. mandate a special education for preschoolers with
1972- Wolf Wolfensberger introduces the concept disabilities and incentives for providing early
of normalization, initially coined by Bengt Nirje of intervention services to infants and toddlers.
Sweden, to the U.S. 1990- PL 101-476, the Individuals with Disabilities
1973- Public 93-112, the Vocational Rehhabilitation Education Act is (IDEA), is passed; emphasizes
Act of 1973, is enacted; Section 504 prohibits transition planning for adolescents with disabilities.
discrimination against individuals with disabilities. 1997- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (PL
1975- Education for All Handicapped Children Act 105-17) is reauthorized, providing a major retooling
(PL 94-112) is passed. Free and appropriate public and expansion of services for students with
education for all children with disabilities. disabilities and their families.
2000’S
2001- No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (PL 107-
110) is enacted; a major educational reform effort
focusing on academic achievement of students and
qualifications of teachers. 2008- Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments
of 2008 are enacted; expand statutory interpretation
2004- Individuals with Disabilities Education
of a disability with affording individuals with
Improvement Act of 2004 (PL 108-446) is passed;
disabilities greater protections.
aligns IDEA legislation with provisions of the NCLB
Act; modifies the individualized education program
process in addition to changes affecting school
discipline, due process, and evaluating of students
with disabilities.
REFERENCES
Parkay, F. W., & Vaillancourt, J. P. (2018). Becoming a teacher. Don Mills, Ontario: Pearson Canada Inc.
Gargiulo, R. M., & Bouck, E. C. (2017). Special education in contemporary society: an introduction to exceptionality. Los
Angeles: SAGE Publications.
Manning, M. L., Baruth, L. G., & Lee, G. L. (2017). Multicultural education of children and adolescents. New York, NY:
Routledge.
Hallahan, D. P. (2014). Exceptional learners an introduction to special education. Harlow: Pearson.
Osgood, R. L. (2008). The history of special education: a struggle for equality in American public schools. Westport, CT:
Praeger.
