A broad coalition of national, state, and local disability, civil rights, and education organizations expresses profound concern regarding the extensive layoffs at the U.S. Department of Education. These reductions have significantly diminished crucial offices, including the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), and the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE). Such actions jeopardize decades of progress in safeguarding the rights of students with disabilities.

These comprehensive terminations imperil fundamental education laws and place millions of children with disabilities at risk, as they receive services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Title IV of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. These layoffs circumvent congressional intent and undermine 50 years of precedent upholding the rights of students with disabilities. Without adequate personnel to oversee these statutes, the Department is unable to provide essential leadership, oversight, guidance, or support to states and schools, thereby jeopardizing students’ access to a free, appropriate public education and hindering the capacity of states and localities to serve all students. Furthermore, these terminations also threaten the vocational rehabilitation system that assists youth and adults with disabilities in securing employment.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of IDEA, legislation that has garnered strong bipartisan support for five decades. Rather than commemorating this progress, we are confronted with a crisis: the dismantling of the very infrastructure Congress established to ensure that children with disabilities could achieve their full potential. This situation risks a regression to a period of segregation and the denial of educational opportunities.

Effective advocacy is more crucial now than ever. We must avoid unproductive online arguments and focus our efforts.

Meaningful engagement takes various forms:

• Attending virtual work sessions locally or at state capitol.
• Contacting legislators via email or phone.
• Sharing social media posts.
• Arranging meetings (virtual or in-person) for legislators to meet autistic loved ones, including those with complex support needs

If this resonates with you, please take 5 minutes to complete this survey to let us know how you’d like to be involved and register for our upcoming advocacy training sessions. These trainings offer practical tools, examples, and a chance to connect with like-minded individuals.