Picture of a rally in front of the U.S. Capitol with someone holding a "Protect Medicaid" sign

“A Dark Day”: Disability Advocates Respond to House Passage of Budget Bill

/in /by Jackie Dilworth

Today, the U.S. House passed the Senate’s version of the Budget Reconciliation Bill. The legislation now heads to the President’s desk. If signed into law, this bill will result in deep and harmful cuts to the programs that millions of people with disabilities rely on to live, learn, and thrive in their communities.

At a high level, the legislation includes:

  • Nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts, slashing almost 20% of the federal program and jeopardizing coverage for nearly 17 million people
  • Nearly $200 billion in cuts to SNAP food assistance
  • A new private school voucher program that diverts public education funds without guaranteeing protections for students with disabilities

While the bill includes a new option for states to create a new home and community-based services (HCBS) waiver, that provision is far from enough to offset the devastating consequences of these cuts.

For more context on what’s really in this legislation, read our joint piece with the Center for American Progress: “The Truth About the One ‘Big, Beautiful’ Bill Act’s Cuts to Medicaid and Medicare”

Below is a statement from Katy Neas, CEO of The Arc of the United States:

“Today is a dark day for people with disabilities and their families. This bill puts essential support at risk for millions. Health care, food assistance, and special education services that people rely on every day are now in jeopardy. It will force states to make impossible choices that could strip people of the services they need to live with dignity, safety, and independence. The harm will be real. Families will feel it in their homes, their schools, and their communities. But we are not giving up. The disability community has fought for generations to be seen, to be valued, and to live freely in our communities. That fight does not end today. The Arc and our nationwide network of advocates will keep going. We will never stop advocating for the policies that people with disabilities deserve.”

A white man in a wheelchair on the sidewalk smiling while facing the camera

Journalist Resource: How to Cover Disability Pride Month 2025 (Reporting Guide)

/in /by Jackie Dilworth

What is Disability Pride Month?

Every July, Disability Pride Month offers newsrooms an opportunity to report on one of the largest—and too often overlooked—communities in the country: people with disabilities.

Disability Pride Month commemorates the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990. Today, more than 1 in 4 U.S. adults identify as having a disability. But despite its size, the disability community remains underrepresented and often misrepresented in media coverage. Disability Pride Month offers a chance to tell more accurate, nuanced, and inclusive stories about disability identity, civil rights, and the barriers many still face.

Why Cover Disability Pride Month in 2025?

The 2025 Disability Pride Month theme – We Belong Here, and We’re Here to Stay – was chosen by a national group of people with disabilities. The theme reflects both the community’s resilience and growing concerns about threats to disability rights and services. While people with disabilities are part of every community, many are made to feel like outsiders.

Several policy and cultural issues are driving new urgency:

  • Medicaid: Proposed cuts and work requirements threaten essential care and independence. (learn more)
  • Special Education: Federal cuts and nationwide staffing crises are widening equity gaps in schools. (learn more)
  • Social Security: Delays, office closures, and policy rollbacks are limiting access to benefits. (learn more)
  • DEI Rollbacks: As corporate commitments to diversity decline, disability inclusion is caught in the middle—impacting jobs, visibility, and representation.
  • Language: Slurs like the R-word are re-entering public discourse, fueling stigma and exclusion. (learn more)

These national issues have deeply local consequences—offering timely, community-centered story opportunities for journalists across the country.

What Does Disability Pride Mean?

Disability Pride affirms that disability is a natural part of the human experience, not something to hide or fix.

For some, pride means celebrating identity. For others, it’s about rejecting shame and fighting for the right to exist fully and freely. Pride can be personal, complex, and sometimes quiet—but at its core, it’s about dignity and belonging.

While distinct from LGBTQ+ Pride Month in June, Disability Pride Month in July similarly emerged from civil rights struggles and a refusal to be erased.

Reporting Tips: Ethical, Inclusive Coverage of Disability Pride Month

  • Talk to people with disabilities in your community about what Disability Pride means to them, and what’s at stake. Their lived experiences bring depth and urgency to many of today’s issues. Avoid only interviewing caregivers or parents unless necessary for context. Some individuals may use communication supports—those tools should be accommodated and not viewed as barriers. Steer clear of oversimplified or patronizing narratives. Respect disabled people’s expertise and full humanity.
  • Localize national policy stories. Explore how federal threats and cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, special education, and Social Security are affecting people with disabilities and families in your coverage area. These are national crises with local consequences—and they’re newsworthy.
  • Cover Disability Pride events—but also go deeper. Disability Pride events offer entry points, but deeper stories lie in ongoing struggles for equity, representation, and access. Ask what the community wants covered and how they want to be seen.
  • Cover disability all year. Disability Pride Month is a vital moment to connect—but the need for inclusive, accurate disability coverage continues year-round.

Finding Local Stories & People

Local chapters of The Arc, disability organizations, advocacy groups, and self-advocate networks are often willing to connect reporters with people with disabilities, families, and professionals eager to share their experiences. Many have long histories of working with media and can help ensure authentic, respectful sourcing.

Helpful Resources for Journalists Covering Disability Pride Month

Explainer: What Is Disability Pride Month? (The Arc)
History of the Disability Pride Flag (Columbia University)
Disability Language Style Guide (National Center on Disability & Journalism)

Contact

Jackie Dilworth
The Arc of the United States
dilworth[at]thearc.org

A picture of Civitan International's logo (a cog with a C and a sphere inside)

Civitan International & The Arc Announce New Partnership to Advance Opportunities for People With Disabilities

/in /by Jackie Dilworth

BIRMINGHAM, AL & WASHINGTON, DC – May 27, 2025 – Civitan International and The Arc announced today a strategic partnership to increase awareness and understanding of the challenges faced by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families, and to connect those families to volunteer activities and resources.

Civitan International, a global network of service clubs dedicated to supporting people with disabilities, and The Arc, the largest national organization advocating for and serving people with IDD, are joining forces to expand community support, inclusion, and opportunity for people with disabilities. This new partnership will focus on three core areas:

  • Volunteer Engagement: Civitan members will connect with local chapters of The Arc to build meaningful relationships and volunteer in programs that directly support people with disabilities and their families.
  • Shared Resources and Best Practices: The two organizations will collaborate to strengthen their programs by sharing tools, knowledge, and strategies that promote inclusion and empower people with disabilities.
  • Community Collaboration: Local Civitan clubs and chapters of The Arc will work together on projects and events that bring people together and create more inclusive communities.

Katy Neas, CEO of The Arc of the United States shared: “Too often, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are left out—of community, of opportunity, of conversations about the future. This partnership is about changing that. When Civitan members show up in local communities and stand alongside people with disabilities, it sends a powerful message: you matter, and we’re in this together. The Arc is proud to join forces with an organization that’s not just talking about inclusion—they’ve been doing the work for generations.”

Mark Eisinger, Executive Vice President of Civitan International, added: “Civitan’s mission to serve is made even stronger through this partnership with The Arc. By combining our efforts, we can promote more inclusive communities where individuals with disabilities are not just accepted but celebrated for their unique contributions. We look forward to collaborating on initiatives that will benefit the millions of people with IDD and their families across the nation and beyond.”

To arrange an interview, please contact:
Civitan International – Public Relations Department
Phone: 205-591-8910
Email: pr@civitan.org

The Arc – Communications Department
Phone: 202-617-3271
Email: dilworth@thearc.org

# # #

About Civitan International: Founded in 1917, Civitan International is an organization of volunteer clubs dedicated to serving individual and community needs with an emphasis on helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Civitan’s mission is to build good citizenship by providing a volunteer organization dedicated to serving individual and community needs with an emphasis on helping people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. To learn more, visit www.civitan.org.

About The Arc: The Arc advocates for and serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), including Down syndrome, autism, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, cerebral palsy, and other diagnoses. Founded in 1950 by parents who knew their disabled children deserved more, The Arc is now the largest grassroots organization for people with IDD with nearly 600 chapters in 47 states and Washington, DC. Together, we are promoting and protecting the rights of people with disabilities and supporting their inclusion throughout their lives—from education to employment to community living. There are approximately 7.4 million people with IDD in the United States, which encompasses over 100 different diagnoses. Visit www.thearc.org or follow us @TheArcUS to learn more. Editor’s Note: The Arc is not an acronym; always refer to us as The Arc, not The ARC and never ARC. The Arc should be considered as a title or a phrase.

A woman holding a sign that says "I am Medicaid. Don't cut me!" while standing in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC

The Arc Responds to House Passage of a Budget Proposal Targeting Medicaid and SNAP

/in /by Jackie Dilworth

Early this morning, the House of Representatives passed a budget reconciliation bill that slashes Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), programs that millions of people with disabilities rely on to survive.

The Arc of the United States urges the Senate to reject the Medicaid and SNAP cuts in the House passed bill that includes the following policies:

  • $715 billion in cuts to Medicaid that threaten access to health care and essential services. These cuts will impact all people covered by the Medicaid program, including people with disabilities, children, and older adults.
  • Combined with restrictions on Affordable Care Act marketplaces and the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits, these policies could result in 13.7 million people losing health insurance.
  • New administrative barriers that require people with coverage through Medicaid expansion will have to renew their eligibility two times a year, instead of once, which will increase the risk that people with disabilities will incorrectly lose coverage.
  • $300 billion in cuts to SNAP, a nearly 30% reduction is the largest cut in the program’s history to critical food assistance.
  • New strict work requirements that are designed to reduce enrollment. Nearly 70% of Medicaid beneficiaries are working. A last-minute change to the bill speeds up the implementation of the work requirements.

Many people with disabilities are exempt from the work requirements. However, when states implemented this approach in the past, the exemptions did not protect people. In practice, the screening process and other outreach and access failures left many people with disabilities without an exemption and locked out of Medicaid coverage.

The work requirements also hurt caregivers, who may not bring home a paycheck but perform critical jobs at home. Combined with massive cuts to Medicaid that threaten access to service, life will be harder for many families.

For people who are working, the system can also fail. Paperwork gets lost. Documentation rules vary by state. Systems become overwhelmed. People fall through the cracks—not because they don’t qualify, but because the system is designed to push them out. We’ve seen this play out in Arkansas.

Katy Neas, CEO of The Arc of the United States, said:
“For millions of people with disabilities, Medicaid and SNAP aren’t just safety nets—they’re survival.

New administrative barriers aren’t about stopping waste, fraud, and abuse. They are about denying access to essential health care to as many people as possible. Families will skip check-ups, critical surgeries, and medications. Parents will go hungry so their kids don’t have to. People will be forced to choose between paying rent or seeing a doctor. This is the brutal reality for the millions who will lose health coverage and food assistance under this plan.

The combined effect of the historic $715 billion in cuts to federal Medicaid spending and the cost-shifting to states in SNAP will set up chaos at the state level. States will be forced to quickly stand up costly and burdensome systems to abide by the work requirements. Limits to how states fund their share of the Medicaid program will make few resources available to address the coverage losses in their states. States may be forced to reduce services or eligibility to make up the difference.

These cuts are devastating. And we won’t be silent while our community is pushed past the brink.”

Next, the Senate must take up the bill. The Arc urges Congress to reject this proposal and protect Medicaid and SNAP. These programs are not optional. They are how people with disabilities live in their homes, care for their families, and survive each day.

The Arc will continue to educate every Member of Congress on the life-and-death consequences of these cuts—and the need to protect Medicaid and SNAP.

A row of parked school buses

Disability Organizations Condemn Inclusion of Voucher Bill in House Markup

/in /by Jackie Dilworth

Today, the House Ways & Means Committee will mark up a budget reconciliation bill that will include a $20 billion proposal diverting public funds to private schools via the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA). While the bill includes new language about so-called “protections” for students with disabilities, it is insufficient in providing meaningful, enforceable protections for students with disabilities and their families. The National Center for Learning Disabilities, along with The Arc of the United States, the Council for Exceptional Children, and the Center for Learner Equity, are staunchly opposed to this bill.

Consider this math: ECCA is estimated to fund private school tuition for about 1 million children for $5 billion a year (averaging $5,000 per child). By contrast, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) currently serves 7.5 million children and receives $14.6 billion in federal funding a year, averaging less than $2,000 per child. This funding level is about 10% of the average per-pupil expenditures. Instead of fully funding IDEA, a promise Congress has never fulfilled, this Congress chooses to fund vouchers, which ultimately benefit the wealthy instead of investing in educating students with disabilities, the overwhelming majority of whom attend public schools.

Further, we reject the many ways in which students with disabilities would still be discriminated against, losing rights under IDEA if this bill passes. Under this proposal, parents may not be fully aware that if they take the voucher, they will jeopardize the rights of their children under IDEA, including:

  1. The right to be educated in the least restrictive environment, a critical protection to ensure students with disabilities are not segregated from their nondisabled peers.
  2. Parental rights, including dispute resolution and due process, an imperative for families to resolve disagreements and ensure educational access.
  3. Student behavioral protections, manifestation determination, essential because disability and behavior are linked and unmet needs can result in challenging behaviors.

The bill makes no mention of students’ protections under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act or the Americans with Disabilities Act, which private religious schools are exempt from.

“The guarantee of rights and protections for students with disabilities using these vouchers is disingenuous at best and crooked at worst, without the other critical provisions of IDEA,” says Dr. Jacqueline Rodriguez, CEO of the National Center for Learning Disabilities. “It is quite possible that families with disabilities will use a voucher under the pretense that their child will have the same rights when in fact they do not.”

“The rights to a free, appropriate public education for eligible students with disabilities remains even if federal and state funds are removed from the public education system. However, states will be extremely challenged to meet their obligation to these students if the ECCA becomes law,” says Katy Neas, CEO of The Arc of the United States. “Parents will have no choice but to sue their states to access the rights their children have been entitled to receive since 1975. And the parents of the 7.5 million children who receive special education services will prevail each and every time.”

“On the 50th anniversary of IDEA, now is the time for Congress to provide the funding it has failed to deliver over the decades for this landmark law. Instead, it is channeling public funds to private schools where there are no guarantees of protections for students with disabilities,” said Chad Rummel, Executive Director of the Council for Exceptional Children. “We call on Congress to rethink this strategy and prioritize public schools, which are designed to serve all children, and educate 90% of students nationwide each day, including 7.5 million children with disabilities.”

“The House proposal amounts to public dollars funding choice without rights. It misleads American families to believe their child with an individualized education program (IEP) will have access to both a federal education voucher and their IDEA protections when they enroll their child in a private or parochial school. But it does not,” stated Jennifer Coco, Interim Executive Director of the Center for Learner Equity. “The fine print of this proposal literally takes the ‘individualized’ out of IEP.”

Picture of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, DC

Historic Medicaid Cuts Are on the Table This Week. Here’s What People With Disabilities Need to Know.

/in /by Jackie Dilworth

Last night, staff of the House Energy and Commerce Committee released their draft budget plan that outlines how they will cut Medicaid—and it’s moving fast. The committee will debate it this week.

Let’s be clear: This proposal threatens the health and independence of millions of people, including people with disabilities, children, older adults, and caregivers. If this bill becomes law, states will be forced to make impossible decisions that would gut essential services—and an estimated 13.7 million will lose coverage.

“People with disabilities will suffer if these proposals become law. It will mean people with disabilities ending up in emergency rooms instead of getting preventive care. It will mean people being forced to live in institutions or become homeless. It will mean caregivers unable to support their loved ones. It will mean states not having the tools they need to respond to local needs. Medicaid is not just a line item in a budget—it’s lifeline. We will not stop until members of Congress understand the harm these proposals will have on the people with disabilities,” said Katy Neas, CEO of The Arc of the United States.

What’s in the proposal?

Work requirements that put up red tape instead of support. These are cuts in disguise. Congress says they only apply to “able-bodied” adults. That vagueness puts people with disabilities and chronic conditions at risk. We’ve seen this before: Arkansas tried it, and thousands lost coverage—not because they didn’t work, but because they couldn’t navigate confusing rules.

Eligibility checks every six months instead of once a year. That might sound small, but it’s not. The health of millions of people will be impacted. When eligible people lose coverage due to red tape, they are more likely to end up in an emergency department due to complications from untreated chronic conditions. Red tape and paperwork will cause eligible people to lose coverage, including people with disabilities who rely on Medicaid for health care, home care, and the support they need to live in their communities. This will also unnecessarily increase Medicaid administrative expenses for states, who will have to figure out how to pay for and administer checks, diverting funding away from beneficiaries.

Higher costs for people who can least afford it. The plan raises doctor visit co-pays for people just above the poverty line, around $15,650/year for a single person. Even small cost increases force people to skip care, delay treatment, and risk emergencies.

Big federal cuts passed off to states. This bill doesn’t just shift dollars—it shifts risk. States would be forced to redesign their entire Medicaid programs on the fly or cut services. Every state would face the same reality: fewer resources, more complexity, and less flexibility to meet people’s needs.

What’s next?

The House Energy and Commerce Committee is marking up the bill this week. If approved, the House of Representatives and the Senate would have to vote on it before it would go to the President for his signature.

The Arc has been fully focused on the fight against Medicaid cuts since they became apparent last fall—and we’ll keep fighting. We need every voice raised to stop this before it’s too late.

A bunch of letters scattered with AUTISM spelled out in the middle

Joint Statement on Upholding Scientific Integrity and Supporting the Autism Community

/in /by Jackie Dilworth

WASHINGTON, DC – As national organizations dedicated to advancing the well-being of autistic individuals, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, Autism Society of America, Autism Speaks, The Arc of the United States, Autistic Women and Non-Binary Network, Autistic People of Color Fund, and partners across the disability and public health sectors stand united in our call for science-based decision-making and increased investment in the research, programs and services the autism community needs to live fully.

While our organizations reflect a broad range of perspectives and experiences, we are aligned in the following principles:

  • Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism. Decades of scientific research confirm there is no causal link. Public health messaging must be grounded in science and protect all communities.
  • Autistic Individuals Deserve Respect and Support. Public dialogue and policy must reflect the inherent value, rights, and diverse needs of autistic people.
  • Evidence-Based Policy Is Essential. We call on policymakers to work in collaboration with autistic individuals, families, researchers, clinicians, and disability organizations to ensure policy is grounded in science and responsive to community needs.

We are deeply concerned by growing public rhetoric and policy decisions that challenge these shared principles. Claims that autism is “preventable” is not supported by scientific consensus and perpetuate stigma. Language framing autism as a “chronic disease,” a “childhood disease” or “epidemic” distorts public understanding and undermines respect for autistic people.

At the same time, federal proposals to reduce funding for programs like Medicaid, the Department of Education, and the Administration for Community Living threaten the very services that autistic individuals and their families rely on. Research must be guided by credentialed experts and inclusive of the complexity and diversity of the lived experiences of the autism community—not redirected by misinformation or ideology. As leaders in the fields of Autism and public health, we are committed to contributing meaningfully to the ongoing dialogue and initiatives led by HHS.

We urge public leaders, institutions, and media to uphold scientific integrity and work together to strengthen—not weaken—the infrastructure of support for the entire autism community.

Signed By:

Autistic Self Advocacy Network, Colin Killick, Executive Director
Autism Society of America, Christopher Banks, President and CEO
Autism Speaks, Keith Wargo, President and CEO
The Arc of the United States, Katy Neas, CEO
Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network, Sharon daVanport, Executive Director
Autistic People of Color Fund, Ly Xīnzhèn Zhǎngsūn Brown, Founding Executive Director
Autism Empowerment, Karen Krejcha, Co-Founder, Executive Director
Dan Marino Foundation, Mary Partin, CEO

Picture of the lights on top of a police car with a dark background

Statement on the Police Killing of an Idaho Autistic Teen

/in /by Jackie Dilworth

Below is a statement from Leigh Anne McKingsley, The Arc’s Senior Director of Disability & Justice Initiatives, on the killing of Victor Perez, an autistic teenager in Idaho who was shot and killed by police.

Being disabled should never be a death sentence.

Victor Perez, a 17-year old with autism, needed an intervention when police were called to his home. Instead, he was shot multiple times and later died in the hospital.

Too many people with autism and other disabilities, especially those who are Black or Brown, face violence instead of support in times of crisis. This must change. This is a failure of systems that are supposed to protect and serve. It’s a failure to recognize each person’s humanity, to provide training, and to respond with care. The more families hear stories like this, the more fearful they are to call police – or anyone – for help.

The Arc grieves the loss of Victor’s life and so many others before him, and we demand accountability. We urgently need investment in disability-informed crisis response systems – not more punishment for behaviors rooted in disability. Every person deserves to feel safe in their own community.

Interactions between police and people with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD), including autism, end in violence more often than most people may realize. According to research, almost half of people killed by police have some kind of disability.

No more than 20 states require law enforcement training on intellectual and developmental disabilities or related conditions, including autism. Training on this topic is too haphazard and not standardized across police agencies in the U.S., meaning that some officers get trained while others don’t – this leaves too much to chance when it comes to calls involving people with disabilities.

The Arc is committed to educating police, other first responders and other professionals in the criminal justice system about people with IDD. The Arc’s National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability (NCCJD) is key to this effort.

Law enforcement must receive effective training to prepare them for situations involving interactions with people with disabilities. NCCJD is a partner with The International Association of Chiefs of Police on the Crisis Response and Intervention Training (CRIT) project that brings more information about IDD into standard police training on mental health and IDD. The CRIT training seeks to include people with IDD, including autism, as co-trainers to increase officer’s personal connection to and experience with those with disabilities in non-crisis situations.

Every person deserves to feel safe in their own community, and as a society we must put measures in place to ensure communication is clear, accommodations are provided, and systems are inclusive of people with disabilities to ensure safety for all.

A teacher standing in front of classroom of students

Why Moving IDEA to HHS Could Harm Students With Disabilities

/in /by Jackie Dilworth

A new proposal to shift the oversight of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) from the U.S. Department of Education to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) could fundamentally change how we support and educate students with disabilities—and not for the better.

First, it’s important to remember that Congress established the Office of Special Education Programs within the Department of Education. Congress must change the law to move the responsibilities to another agency. It’s also important to remember that the rights that children have under IDEA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 have not changed. The executive action that was issued on March 20, 2025, does not change these laws and their regulations.

We don’t really know what would happen if the management of IDEA moves to HHS, but we have some concerns. For example, this move might be viewed as promoting a medical model of disability—one that treats disability as a diagnosis to be managed rather than recognizing students as learners with potential. Framing students with disabilities through a medical lens risks stigmatizing, segregating, and isolating them from their peers. It undermines decades of progress toward ensuring that students with disabilities are seen—and supported—as general education students first.

The U.S. Department of Education is the only federal agency with the expertise and infrastructure to uphold IDEA’s promise. Moving IDEA to HHS would weaken the critical systems that ensure students with disabilities can learn, grow, and thrive, including:

  • Lack of Education Expertise: HHS is not equipped to work directly with state education agencies that oversee IDEA implementation in local school districts. The Department of Education has decades of experience supporting these complex relationships and ensuring compliance.
  • Loss of Parent Support: Families navigating special education rely on Parent Training and Information (PTI) centers funded by the Department of Education. These centers provide essential, hands-on assistance to parents. HHS lacks the experience and infrastructure to maintain and strengthen this vital network.
  • Undermining Inclusion: The Department of Education oversees the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and other key education laws that reinforce the principle that students with disabilities are general education students. A shift to HHS would fracture this connection and threaten the expectation that every student—regardless of disability—can achieve academically and pursue career training or post-secondary education.

Students with disabilities don’t belong in a medical model. They belong in classrooms, learning alongside their peers, and preparing for bright futures. Moving IDEA to HHS risks turning back the clock on inclusion and sends a harmful message that children with disabilities are “patients” to be managed rather than students with potential to be fulfilled.

At The Arc, we will continue to fight to ensure that IDEA remains where it belongs—within the U.S. Department of Education—because every student deserves access to a meaningful education and the opportunity to achieve their goals.

Picture of the U.S. Department of Education building in Washington, DC

Dismantling the U.S. Department of Education: Here’s What’s at Stake for Students With Disabilities.

/in /by Jackie Dilworth

Statement from our CEO Katy Neas on the Executive Order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. To learn more, read Katy’s op-ed in Newsweek.

“Dismantling the U.S. Department of Education is more than a policy shift—it will reverse five decades of progress for students with disabilities. While the right to a free appropriate public education for children with disabilities will remain under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, states will struggle to deliver on its promise without federal technical assistance, oversight, and enforcement. Children with disabilities who do not receive appropriate education services will face greater isolation, unemployment, and poverty. We cannot afford to undo the hard-won gains of the past. We must protect the future of every student, because the strength of our society depends on it.”