Advocacy Alert:  Protect Disability Rights and Enforcement

Proposed elimination of the U.S. Department of Education poses a serious threat to disability rights. 

Keep IDEA Under the U.S. Department of Education

Currently, students who have IEPs receive their services because of a law called IDEA.  The White House has stated an intent to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and move IDEA under the Health and Human Services (HHS) Department.  Moving IDEA is strongly opposed by disability rights organizations and Special Education professionals.  The Council for Exceptional Children has created an action form allowing concerned parents and educators to urge their U.S. Representatives and U.S. Senators to act to protect IDEA and to keep it under the Department of Education.  You can access this form here:  https://exceptionalchildren.org/takeaction?vvsrc=/Campaigns/121668/Respond

Protect the U.S. Department of Education

Eliminating the U.S. Department of Education would have a devastating impact on the learning of all students in public schools, but especially those in vulnerable populations, including students with disabilities.  National PTA has issued a call to action for all members to advocate to protect the Department of Education:  https://www.pta.org/home/advocacy/take-action?vvsrc=%2fcampaigns%2f121489%2frespond 

Although the White House has made already significant cuts to the Department of Education staff, the department itself cannot be eliminated without action from Congress.  YOUR voice is needed to ask your U.S. legislators to protect the Department!

Learn more from NCLD about the importance of protecting the Department of Education, and access additional information you can use to contact your U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives:  https://ncld.quorum.us/campaign/protect_used/ 

The Arc of the United States has also shared a call to action:  https://action.thearc.org/o6PsrFH 

Who Represents Me?

Some organizations recommend contacting your elected officials directly with personalized messages (rather than using forms provided by organizations), when possible, to show how much the issue matters to you.  You can find your U.S. Senators and Representatives here:  https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials 

Updated 8/4/25

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