Timeline of Special Education

Year Event

1824 Braille system for reading was invented by Louis Braille.

1831 First School for the Deaf was opened in Champlain, Quebec by Ronald
McDonald a former priest.

1856 Another School for the Deaf was opened in Halifax Canada.

1858 A privately founded School for the Deaf was opened by John Barrett McGrann
in Toronto, Ontario.

1870 Ontario Institute for Deaf and Blind in Belleville, Ontario was established
because the Ontario Legislature gave full financial support to John Barrett
McGrann for it.

1872 A school for the blind was opened in Brantford.

1876 First residential institution in Canada for the Developmentally disabled opened
in Orillia, Ontario.

1918 Mental Hygiene segregated people with special needs, so the Canadian National
Committee put pressure on the government to expand facilities for people with
special needs.

1950 The Royal Commission of Education in Ontario acknowledged the need to

accommodate all with special needs, so the Hope Commission recommended
the expansion of special educational programs.

1960 The Education Act defined roles and responsibilities of all those involved in
education.

1962 The Canadian Human Rights Commission established a concern for human
rights.

1963 The term “learning disabilities” was proposed by Samuel Kirk.

1963 The OACLD (Ontario Association for Children and Learning Disabilities) began
providing advice, support, and assistance to parents and children with special
needs, and exceptionalities.

1968 The Special Branch of the Ministry of Education was created to advance the
developments of special needs services.
1980 Bill 82 (Education Amendment Act) required all School boards to provide
education to all students, even with disabilities. By 1985 the programs had to
be in place.

1982 The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, declared equality between all
people including those with special needs, or exceptionalities.

1990 The IPRC (identification, placement, review committee) was formed. This
helped identify students needs and figure out a place for them in the class.

1998 New Curriculum Documents, including regulation requiring IEP’s (individual

education plan) for all exceptional students, or for any student who needs
special services.

2002 Ontario Disability Act was established to improve identification and

opportunities for people with disabilities.

2003 SEAC (Special Education Advisory Committee) training educated the public
about special education.

2004 IEP (Individual Education Plan) was developed. It worked as a resource guide,
working document changing term to term, which teachers and parents worked
on together.

2005 The Ontario Ministry of Education document, for effective approaches to

improve literacy and numeracy for students kindergarten-grade 6.