Today, October 28th, is the anniversary of the death of Edward Seguin who passed away in 1880. Seguin was mentored by Jean Marc Gaspard Itard, the educator and physician who worked with Victor - the “wild boy of Aveyron.” Seguin immigrated to the United States and is best known for his belief in “the physiological method.” This method is the belief that “idiocy” was caused by a disorder within the central nervous system, thus Seguin believed that strengthening the nervous system would improve the individuals abilities. Seguin believed that people with mental disabilities could learn to do things and focused on vocational and self-care skills. This view about people with disabilities was greatly opposed at the time.
Reference:
“Edward Seguin.” Museum of DisABILITY History, Museum of DisABILITY History, https://www.museumofdisability.org/exhibits/past/pantheon-of-disability-history/edward-seguin/.