For weeks, I haven’t been able to sleep. Since January, the fear of what’s happening to public education—and especially special education—has weighed heavily on me. And I know I’m not alone. Parents of children with disabilities across the country are feeling the same deep anxiety about the future of our kids' education.
This week, I had the opportunity to join Senator Patty Murray in speaking out against the administration’s reckless efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education—an action that would devastate students, especially those with disabilities. As a mom, a researcher, and a family support professional, I can’t stay silent while the programs that made my children’s success possible are being put on the chopping block.
My Family’s Story: Why This Matters
I am the mother of four children, three of whom have disabilities. My two oldest sons, Dalton and Conner, are deafblind due to a condition called Usher syndrome. Thanks to federally funded early intervention, special education services, and accommodations, they’ve been able to thrive.
Conner graduated from the National Technical Institute for the Deaf and worked at the Helen Keller National Center—both federally supported institutions that are now at risk of losing funding. Dalton, now 16, attends Bellevue High School with an IEP, takes college courses, and has a job he loves. His transition IEP meeting this year—where a representative from the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation joined to help plan his future—gave me hope.
But my children’s stories are not unique. I work with families every day who rely on these programs—families whose children need speech therapy, mobility training, assistive technology, and specialized teachers.
I also substitute at a deaf and hard of hearing preschool, where I see young children thrive in an environment tailored to their needs. These programs provide early language access, specialized instruction, and the foundation for future success. They give these children a chance to learn, communicate, and build confidence. If these vital programs lose funding, what will happen to those preschoolers? What will it mean for their ability to access education and reach their full potential?
Programs That Serve Low-Incidence Disabilities Depend on Federal Funding
Programs that support children with low-incidence disabilities—like deafblindness—rely heavily on federal funding because individual states lack the resources to meet these students’ needs on their own. Programs like:
🔹 State Deafblind Projects, which provide training and support for families and educators.
🔹 The American Printing House for the Blind, which ensures students with visual impairments have accessible learning materials.
🔹 The Helen Keller National Center, which provides vocational training and independent living support for young adults who are deafblind.
These specialized programs are essential, and without federal support, many children with rare disabilities will be left without the education and services they need to succeed.
Dismantling the Department of Education Hurts Kids with Disabilities
The administration claims that eliminating the Department of Education is about “state control.” But states already control education—and without federal oversight, many children with disabilities will fall through the cracks. The Department of Education ensures that laws like IDEA, Section 504, and Title I are followed, that civil rights violations are investigated, and that funding reaches the kids who need it most.
If these reckless changes go through:
🔹 Special education services could be drastically cut—impacting the 152,000 students in Washington alone who rely on IDEA funding.
🔹 Research and technical assistance programs will disappear—leaving students with rare disabilities without the support they need.
🔹 Teachers and specialists will lose jobs—deepening the special education staff shortage.
🔹 There will be fewer trained professionals with expertise in rare disabilities—as teacher preparation programs lose funding and support, making it even harder to recruit and retain qualified specialists.
🔹 Programs like deaf and hard of hearing preschools may be eliminated—limiting early language access and crucial developmental support.
🔹 Students will lose access to financial aid and college programs—jeopardizing the futures of young adults with disabilities.
My Kids Are Not Broken—Why IDEA Must Stay in the Department of Education
One of the most devastating proposals being considered is the idea of moving IDEA oversight from the Department of Education to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This shift would fundamentally change how we view children with disabilities—from students with potential to medical cases that need to be "treated."
My children are not broken. They are not medical problems to be managed. They are students, learners, future college graduates, and professionals. Moving IDEA to HHS would take the focus away from education and learning and undo decades of progress in disability rights.
If this happens, we can expect:
🚨 A loss of expertise from educators who specialize in special education—replacing them with a medical model that doesn’t prioritize learning.
🚨 A shift from an education-first approach to a treatment-based model—which could limit access to inclusive classrooms and individualized instruction.
🚨 Weaker enforcement of IDEA—leaving parents to fight even harder for their children’s right to an education.
This is not acceptable. We have fought too hard for inclusive education to allow our kids’ futures to be dictated by a system that views them as patients instead of students.
A Call to Action: Our Children Are Counting on Us
When my children were first diagnosed, I felt lost. But I quickly learned that I didn’t have to do this alone. We were connected to early intervention teams, special education programs, and educators who cared deeply. If we allow these cuts to happen, parents of newly diagnosed children won’t have those same lifelines.
Last month, I met a newborn baby girl with the same condition as my sons. Her parents are just beginning this journey, full of the same fears I once had. But unlike me, they may not have the same support system in place to help them navigate what comes next. That’s unacceptable.
I am calling on lawmakers to protect IDEA, reject the dismantling of the Department of Education, and fully fund special education programs. And I am urging every parent, educator, and advocate to speak up before it’s too late.
We cannot go backward. We will lose over 30 years of progress if we let this happen. We will not let our children lose the rights and resources they deserve.
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