Page Introduction
Welcome to the disABILITY in Education exhibit. Here you will find information on the development of specialized education for individuals with disabilities. This exhibit contains information on the beginnings of specialized schools and institutions, classroom education and school activities, vocational education, and occupational therapy.
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disABILITY in Education
Classroom Education
Beginnings
One of the first special schools in the country was the Massachusetts School for the Feeble-Minded, an "experimental school for idiots" at the Perkins Institute for the Blind. This private school was opened in 1848 by Samuel Gridley Howe.
Beginnings
Also in 1848, Dr. Hervey B. Wilbur founded the "Institution for Idiots" in Barre, Massachusetts. The Institution was in a modest house where Dr. Wilbur instructed up to twelve "idiots."
Syracuse
The origins of the Syracuse State School date back to 1853 when New York appropriated $20,000 for the purchase of land. The institution was completed and occupied by 1855. The objective of the Syracuse State School was to train "improvable cases" with as much academic work as possible. Children ages 6 to 16 were taught in the classroom. From there children were trained in either domestic arts or farm work.
Private Institute for Imbeciles
James B. Richards opened a private institution in Harlem, New York in 1856. After working with Samuel G. Howe in Massachusetts, and at the Pennsylvania Training School, Richards embarked on his own using his educational methods.
A Student
Shown here are 19th century images depicting the progression of a pupil that was directly educated by James Richards. This student was not able to walk, eat, or do anything on his own. The images of the student show an improvement from 6 months to 3 years of instruction.
Newark
Opened as an experimental branch of Syracuse State School in 1878, Newark State School became an independent institution in 1885. The original intention of the institution was to instruct females only. Due to the growing numbers of people being identified as intellectually disabled, this changed when the first boys were admitted in 1932.
Classroom Education
A kindergarten and primary classroom at the New York Institute for the Blind in Batavia, New York from 1893.
Learning Sign Language
These students are learning sign language and lip reading at a very young age at St. Mary's School for the Deaf in Buffalo, New York. Sign language opens up the world of communication for people with and without hearing impairments.
School for the Feeble-minded
The School for the Feeble-minded in Laconia, New Hampshire had both academic and vocational instruction. Here are two classrooms from the school, one entirely of girls and the other co-educational. Students lived on campus in dormitories.
Educational Activities
These images show students involved in educational activities. The bottom picture is of students with disabilities learning to count by playing a game.
Educational Activities
With some help from devices such as standing tables and crosspieces these students are able to write.
Educational Activities
These students are getting ready to learn using the Doman-Delacato therapy method. This method of learning was based on neurological organization that started patterned activities.
The School at Randall's Island
"The Idiot School" at Randall's Island House of Refuge opened in 1866. Randall's Island is located in the East River between Manhattan and Queens, N.Y. Here in a classroom, students are receiving lessons in choral singing.
The School Band
Schools also included music instruction. The bands pictured here are from the Elwyn Training School in Pennsylvania and the Pennhurst State School also in Pennsylvania. Music has long been used in the education of people with intellectual disabilities.
Physical Education
Exercising the body was just as important as exercising the mind. Students participated in a variety of physical education activities such as marching, calisthenics, sports and games.
Advertising
Schools for the disabled often advertised in popular magazines and newspapers. The ads featured here are from The Outlook and Harper's respectively. The New Jersey Training School in Vineland, New Jersey was advertised in Harper's.
Vocational Education
Sewing
Learning to sew by hand and with a machine was one aspect of the education given to students of the Batavia School for the Blind. Boys were also instructed in sewing. These boys are in the tailor shop at St. Josephs Protectory in West Seneca, New York. "Learning a trade" was a path to being a self-supporting individual.
Basket Weaving
Basket-making was a common trade taught in vocational education departments at various schools. Here students at the Batavia School for the Blind and Pennhurst State School are weaving baskets for use at their respective schools and to sell to the public.
Randall's Island House of Refuge
The seamanship class at the House of Refuge on Randall's Island for juvenile delinquents in New York City taught furling sails on dummy ships. These classes prepared boys for positions on merchant ships or in the navy. Lieutenant O. W. Lowry of the United States Navy was the superintendent of Randall's Island in 1894 and was proud of his seaman department.
Randall's Island House of Refuge
Randall's Island also had vocational education for women, including sewing and cooking classes. These classes would help to prepare these women for domestic services.
St. Mary's
Woodworking was taught at the St. Mary's School for the Deaf in Buffalo, New York. Here these boys have built sleds that would be appropriate for the winter weather in Buffalo. Chair caning was also offered as a vocational class at St. Mary's School for the Deaf in Buffalo, New York.
Manual Training
This manual training room, at the Laconia New Hampshire School for the Feebleminded, could prepare these boys for work outside of the school or at the school itself, helping to cut costs.
Deborah Kallikak
Vocational training for women focused almost solely on domestic services. Here Deborah Kallikak, from the famous study Kallikak Family: A Study in the Heredity of Feeble-mindedness by Henry Herbert Goddard (pictured upper left), is learning the skills needed to be a waitress and a seamstress.
Print Shop
Many schools, like the Pennhurst State School in Pennsylvania and the Randall's Island school, had print shops. Students could learn the intricacies of the printing process and were fully involved in the production of school newspapers and other media items.
Domestic Service
At the East Aurora Colony House women were given education in domestic services. Newark State School also had training in laundry, ironing and pressing. Individuals paroled from these facilities would find work in the community.
Domestic Service
The School for the Feeble-minded in Waltham, Massachusetts also gave instruction in domestic services. These girls would live at the institution. The girls' building can be seen here to the left.
Occupational Therapy
