100 years of special education at EMU celebrated in May

By Debra Johnson | Published June 24, 2014

Eastern Michigan University's department of special education celebrates its 100th anniversary. The Department of Special Education, the first of its kind in the United States, celebrated its 100th anniversary with a series of events that started on May 16 and ran through May 18.

The weekend included tours of EMU's campus highlighting the Rackham Building (long the home of the department and the first training facility for special education professionals in the country). Students and faculty from the department were on hand to give presentations about the past and future of special education.

There was a display of special education historical archives spanning 100 years in the McKenny Gallery, where one could see an array of historical photos, assessment measures that were used to assist in determining if a child required special education services and books authored by faculty members from the program.

The celebration culminated with a dinner in the Student Center, a proclamation by Governor Snyder and a keynote address by noted lawyer and disability advocate Barbara Ransom, all emceed by emeritus Dean Jerry Robbins.

The event was well attended by alumni, EMU emeritus faculty, staff and teachers, along with current faculty, staff, administrators and students.