The Evolution of Special Education in Iowa: As Told through the Voices of Those Who Created It
Author: Grimes, Jeff
Date: 2016-00-00
Type: Reports - Descriptive
Subjects: Special Education,Disabilities,Educational History,Educational Trends,Interviews,Literature Reviews,Parents,Special Education Teachers,Regular and Special Education Relationship,School Psychologists,School Social Workers,Consultants,Occupational Therapy,Allied Health Personnel,Physical Therapy,Speech Language Pathology,Administrators,Lawyers,Graphs,Student Characteristics,Population Groups,Social Environment,Cultural Context,Current Events,Civil Rights,Attitudes toward Disabilities,Attitude Change,Advocacy,Legislation,Social Services,Special Needs Students,Quality of Life,Social Support Groups,Trend Analysis,Population Trends,Individualized Education Programs,Educational Change,Academic Accommodations (Disabilities)

The purpose of this document is to provide a historical perspective of the evolution of special education in Iowa through the voices of the people who created the system of support for individuals with disabilities. In addition to the interviews, extensive historical literature reviews were conducted. One hundred and thirty individuals were interviewed across three years. The participants ranged from those involved in special education in the 1950s to people currently practicing, and from those serving children from birth to those providing special education support to graduating seniors or students aging out of special education services. The individuals were parents of children with disabilities, special and general education teachers, school psychologists, school social workers, special education consultants, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech language pathologists, early childhood social workers and consultants, school administrators, attorneys for parents and school districts, and many more. This documents includes a number of tables and graphs regarding student population changes over time, state and federal legislative efforts that changed practices, legal principles and the implications for funding and services, progress monitoring data, and race/ethnicity percentages across time. The document traces the history of special education from before the 1960s, through each decade from 1960 to the present. Each decade is introduced by providing a context of what was occurring at the world, national, and state level in current events, civil rights, and special education. Each decade is then, in turn, concluded by reflecting on advances in the disability awareness in that decade. Between the beginning and ending of each decade are the important advocacy, legislative, and improved practice events of that time period. This is brought alive through the stories of those that advocated and provided services for individuals with disabilities. The results revealed through interviewing the people who had lived the adventure, and who had created the future, the incredible story of developing services for individuals with special education needs. The evolution of special education in Iowa is the story of people who exhibited, and in many cases are still demonstrating, a sustained passion for helping others improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and their families. Educators' benefit from understanding the history of the development of special education supports and services in the past to be better prepared to enhance services in the future. Appendices include: (1) Participants in Conversations; and (2) Image Credits.