1. Historical Perspectives in Special Education
A brief review

2. Ancient Views (BC) Seriously affected seldom survived birth
Mildly disabled survived and contributed
Belief in supernatural led to (2) different views:
Demons; therefore kill them
Unique; therefore revere and honor
Regardless, those with disabilities were isolated

3. An Ethical Dilemma Over 400,000 babies are born in the US premature
They are at risk for life long disabilities
Often policy to resuscitate all babies weighing 1 lb or more

4. Greek and Roman Early: Away from supernatural to natural causes
Holistic interventions such as:
Diet
Exercise
Natural herbs etc
Mind, body, spirit

5. Greek and Roman (con’t)
Later in this period:
Need for military superiority
Therefore, needed society free of “defectives”
Returned to previous views of disability
Called Era of Extermination
Individual is what he is, now and forever

6. Greek & Roman(con’t) Consequences of Philosophy: Punishment: Chaining
Left on hills to die
Thrown off cliffs
Locked away
Drown
Father had right to terminate child’s life

7. Greek and Roman treatment of the disabled
Thrown off cliffs
Locked away
Chained

8. Middle Ages Rigid caste system Era of Ridicule
Those with disabilities were:
Used as servants or fools
Some were still put to death
Dwarfs were used as clowns
Overall, ridiculed for deformities and behavior

9. Renaissance Era of Asylum
Catholic Church accepts those with disabilities as wards of state
Cared for in isolation
No education at first, but humane treatment
Belief: Once disabled, always disabled

11. Industrial Revolution
Era of Education
Need for mass education, literate society, and good workers
Vocational Emphasis
Sheltered workshops emerged

12. Early Education Efforts
Itard-wolf boy, multi-sensory learning
Sequin-training sequence
Montessori-individualized and discovery learning
These were some seeds of special education

13. Pioneers in Special Education
Eduard Seguin
Maria Montessori
Jean-Marc
Itard

14. Turn of the Century (early 1900’s)
Early: Biological emphasis
Institutional Care/medical model
’s some classes for the mentally retarded

15. Turn of the Century (con’t)
Late: Environmental emphasis
Veterans-rise in litigation and legislation
Civil Rights movement in 50’s and 60’s

16. Contemporary Issues Inclusion Zero Reject Litigation/legislation
Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
Parents as equal members
Collaboration between general ed and special ed