History of Institutionalization of the Exceptional Student The following essay presents the history of institutionalization of the exceptional student. A discussion of early institutionalism, the history of special education, race and institutionalism, and institutionalism, special education, and inclusion are presented.
Early institutionalization of exceptional students included those with mental illness and those with mental retardation. Theses students were institutionalized in psychiatric hospitals and centers designed to deal with developmental disabilities (Paul, French, & Cranston-Gingras, 2001). These institutions were built with the intention of serving those with disabilities. However, institutionalism resulted in sociological and moral problems and resulting reforms in the 1960s and 1970s. Residential institutions continue today, but the quality of their care is challenged by supporters of community-based care (Paul et al., 2001).
As the institutionalization of exceptional students declined, this tendency was replaced by special education. Thus, the history of special education began with deinstitutionalization of the disabled student. However, special education did not necessarily fill the needs of these students. By 1968 Loyd Dunn, a leader in the field, reported on the ineffectiveness of special education programs for students with mild mental retardation. Teachers were forced to deal
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