Helena Trafford Devereux (February 2, 1885 – November 17, 1975) was an American educator who founded the Devereux Foundation. She is considered a pioneer in the field of special education.
In 1912, Devereux began the first Devereux School for Exceptional Children in her home with less than $100. Today, more than 6,000 Devereux staff provides services to tens of thousands of children, adolescents, adults, and their families in 11 states and millions more across the country through public education and prevention programs each year.
Education
Devereux graduated from the Philadelphia High School for Girls in 1904 and from the Philadelphia Normal School for Girls in 1906 where she trained to become a teacher. Upon graduation she began teaching in one of Philadelphia's most underprivileged communities, at the George Washington School in South Philadelphia. Soon, her class became the de facto special education classroom.
In 1911, Devereux was offered the job of Director of Special Education by the Philadelphia Board of Education, a new position designed to supervise the creation of a special education department. Despite being offered a handsome salary for the time, she turned it down, believing that she could have a greater impact branching off on her own. During that time, Devereux also received similar offers from other parents of children with special needs. In the summer of 1911, Devereux rented at six-bedroom home in Avalon, New Jersey in order to teach and care for eight children.
In 1940 Devereux transferred all the assets and properties of Devereux Schools to the Foundation. Devereux's only published paper was published in 1909 in The Psychological Clinic entitled, “Report of a Year’s Work on Defectives in a Public School.”
Personal life
In 1924, Devereux married James Fentress, a widower of one of her friends.
References
External links
- Devereux.org history
- Biography of Helena Devereux