Overview

During the nineteenth century the number of educational institutions in the United States grew rapidly. In addition to elementary schools, high schools, and colleges, schools devoted to the training and welfare of disabled children were established. Special schools were created to assist in the training and education of children who were blind, deaf, and mentally handicapped. The attempt to educate the handicapped was related to major nineteenth-century reform movements that fought against slavery and other forms of institutionalized injustice, mistreatment, and neglect.

Background

Education for the Deaf

Children who are severely deaf are unable to learn from the spoken word and may not develop spoken language. Such children are considered mute through deafness. The lack of normal communication may lead to isolation and great difficulty in education. Efforts to teach deaf students to read, write...