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

inclusion.

Top Five for Intellectual DisabilityIncredible contribution during his time in the field of

intellectual disabilitiesInnovative 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 DisabilityQuality 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 DisabilityFirst 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.