1. The Origins of Special
Education in
Psychology
Syd Hanson

2. Overview
• Before the brain was established as the organ of the mind, it
was believed that nothing could be done to improve any type
of mental handicap
• Reflects Francis Galton’s theories of intelligence being in a
fixed measurement for life

3. Moving Forward
• Discoveries of localized brain functioning, such as Broca’s
area, sparked the idea that mental impairments were the
result of a physical malfunction of the brain

4. Jean Marc Itard/ Victor of Aveyron
• 1799– Hunters in
Southern France spot
naked boy in the woods
• Came under the care of
Jean Itard who
attempted to educate
Victor by “reawakening
the boy’s senses”

5. Edouard Seguin
• Student of Itard and “Father of Special
Education”
• Believed any mentally handicapped child
could make progress similar to Victors
• Argued retardation was not a disease of
the brain, but a lack of early
development
• Continued to develop Itard’s
physiological teaching method– which
inspired modern special education
methods
• Ended up opening several schools
dedicated to special education

6. Samuel Howe/ Laura Bridgman
• Seguins counterpart in
America– made director of
schools for the blind and deaf
• Adopted Sequins teaching
method, and set to work
educating Laura Bridgnman, a
deaf/blind girl
• Attempted to form connections
in her brain through her
remaining sense of touch
• After a “eureka” moment
Laura’s language faculty kicked
into high gear and she became
a successful writer
• Poetry, books, journal