Historical Figures in Special Education

Henry GoddardCyril Burt

Donald M. BaerSamuel Gridley Howe

James Hinshelwood

Henry GoddardBrought Binet scale to America in 1908.Participated in the writing of the first U.S.

law requiring special education for children with intellectual disability in 1911.

Developed the Army Alpha and Beta group tests.

Henry Goddard – some drawbacks

Nature of intelligenceIntellectual differences associated with

national origin.Need for institutionalization.Role of heredity in feeble-mindedness.Kalikuk family.

Selected as a Top Five for Intellectual Disability

Significant contributions to the field in his time.

Lasting legacy in special education through his work in writing the first law addressing special education in Congress.

Cyril BurtIn the UK, one of the most influential

psychologists of his time. First psychologist to be knighted in 1946.Eleven Plus program

Cyril BurtWork with identical twins.Credibility was questioned.Compared with scientists of his time, his

work was viewed as very flawed.

Views of Psychologists Have Changed

Genetic factors.Measure of intellect is complex.Environmental factors.Self-contained classrooms are replaced with

inclusion.

Top Five for Intellectual Disability

Incredible contribution during his time in the field of intellectual disabilities

Innovative work on factor analysis.

Donald M. BaerDirector of the Department of Human

Development and Family Life at the University of Kansas from 1955 until 2002.

Developed applied behavior analysis.

Donald M. BaerStudied people with severe intellectual

disabilityMethods included applied behavior analysis,

which dealt with socially significant factors.Applied behavior analysis was first set forth

in his writings.

Donald M. BaerApplied behavior analysis remained effective

because its methods worked and could be experimentally verified and replicated.

Raised the morale in the entire field and aided efforts in de-institutionalization.

Chosen as a Top Five for Intellectual Disability

Quality of his work on socially important behaviors.

Other researchers were able to draw on his work for legislation, litigation, and administrative actions.

An advocate in that he practiced good science on socially relevant topics.

Samuel Gridley HoweExpanded the Perkins Institute for the Blind

in 1848 to include individuals with intellectual disability.

Predicted the dangers of residential institutions.

Institutions spread across the U.S. despite his warnings.

Samuel Gridley HoweAlso noted for his work with the blind.Brought blind students before state

legislatures in order to obtain funding for his school.

Known for teaching a blind-deaf mute, Laura Bridgeman to read, write, and hold communication with others.

Top Five for Intellectual Disability

First to found a school for intellectual disabilities.

The school was replicated nationally, and despite his warnings against it, institutions sprang up across America.

James HinshelwoodFirst physician to recommend a specific

instructional approach for students with dyslexia.

Made first attempt in the literature to explain word blindness and to establish a scientific basis.

James HinshelwoodOften more than one case in a family.Similar to adults who had lost the ability to

read due to brain injury.He believed dyslexia may be a result of

disease, birth injury, or defective development of the embryo.

James HinshelwoodConcerned with terminology.“Word blindness” later came to be termed

dyslexia.

Top Five for Learning DisabilitiesFirst to recognize that a different

instructional approach for students with written language disorders is necessary.

First to recognize what we now call dyslexia as a medical condition.

ReferencesRouth, D. (2005). Historical Reflections on

Advocacy in the Psychology of Intellectual Disability. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. 34 (4), 606 –611.

Richards, L. (2006) The Cadmus of the Blind. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness. 20 (2), 584-585.

Smith, D., (2007). Introduction to Special Education: Making a Difference. San Francisco, CA: Pearson.

Richardson, S. (1992). Historical Perspectives on Dyslexia. Journal of Learning Disabilities. 25 (1), 40-47.