Donald Trump's Ableism

One of my favorite parts of my high school experience has been my time hanging out in the special education classrooms. Taking the “Internship in Special Education” course last spring was rewarding, educational, and downright fun (who knew that going to Pressed Cafe with newfound friends was considered a lesson in “life skills”?). I’ve spent time in the Intensive Learning Center, a classroom for high school-aged students with disabilities, and the Post-Graduate program, for adults with disabilities, and observed the incredible progress those young adults make every single day with the support provided by the Special Education department staff. In addition to curricular classes such as math and English, they learn essential life skills: cooking, shopping, preparing for job interviews, and working each day. Even though I’m not currently enrolled in the internship program, my weekly tutoring sessions with a student in the program are usually fun-filled and rewarding, the opportunity to build a friendship with my tutee a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of senior year life. 

However, on Thursday, December 7th, I headed into the special education classroom with a new touch of frustration and anxiety; the country had just elected Donald Trump as president, a man who has stated that he plans to close the Department of Education. 

There isn’t much clarity over what this would actually mean for disabled students (if he is able to go through with such a plan). In an article from Disability Scoop, Eric Hanushek, who specializes in the economics of education, stated on a panel about the effect that this department’s closing could have on students with disabilities that because Congress makes the decisions on appropriations, there wouldn’t be significant impacts on funding for special education programs. However, in the same article, Jessica Levin, who works at the Education Law Center, reminds us that the experts at the Department of Education “play a crucial role in enforcing those civil rights for students with disabilities across the country.” Without such a governing body, schools could get away with blatantly violating the laws that entitle disabled students to a complete education.

In addition to the legal implications, there could also be potential economic consequences with the dissolving of the Department of Education. According to an article in  Education Week, closing the Department of Education will lead to a risk of decreased funding for research that focuses on adaptive technology and teaching practices. Eric Hanushek also reminds us that the Department of Education funds many of the college programs that train special education teachers. Without this funding, who will be training the next generation of special education teachers? Who will be left to support and work with students who think differently?

Realistically, it would be incredibly difficult for Donald Trump to get rid of an entire department. However, he has shown through other elements of his Project 2025 plan that he does not care about the education and wellbeing of disabled students; he supports blocking the granting of Title I and decreasing other federal funding efforts for public schools. He rejects significant evidence that traditional disciplinary methods inequitably target students with disabilities. Moreover, he openly mocks people with disabilities.

The special education supports provided at Needham High School are robust and essential, the teachers caring and supportive. Most importantly, anyone who has spent a moment in lunch groups, Best Buddies meetings, or a  special education classroom can tell you that the students are hardworking and intelligent. They deserve the opportunity to learn, work, and thrive in a country that values and respects them. 

If you’re looking to get involved with the special education program here at the high school, now is the time to do so. Joining Best Buddies is an amazing way to start, which you can do by contacting Brian Ziman at brian_ziman@needham.k12.ma.us. Taking the internship course is another; it is a half-year course open to students in all grades. We cannot change the outcome of the presidential election, but we can spend the next four years showing our classmates that, unlike our leader, we believe in their rights to humanity and dignity.