Department of Education Condemned for Ending Support for Students with Disabilities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 14, 2025
Disability Rights Center – NH joins Coalition of over 375 Disability, Civil Rights, and Education Organizations in Calling for Reversal of Layoffs at Department of Education
Washington, D.C. – A broad coalition of national, state, and local disability, civil rights, and education organizations is sounding the alarm over sweeping layoffs at the U.S. Department of Education. These cuts have gutted key 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)—threatening decades of progress in protecting students with disabilities.
These wholesale terminations place fundamental education laws in peril and place millions of children with disabilities at risk who 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 the will of Congress and dismantle 50 years of precedent upholding rights for students with disabilities. Without personnel to oversee these laws, the Department cannot provide essential leadership, oversight, guidance, or support to states and schools—jeopardizing students’ access to a free, appropriate public education and hampering the ability of states and localities to serve all students. In addition, the terminations also threaten the vocational rehabilitation system that helps youth and adults with disabilities become employed.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of IDEA, a law that has enjoyed strong bipartisan support for five decades. Rather than celebrating progress, we face a crisis: the dismantling of the very infrastructure Congress created to ensure children with disabilities could reach their full potential, potentially catapulting them back to a time of segregation and refusal to provide educational opportunities.
The undersigned organizations urge the Administration – and call on Congress to do the same – to reverse course immediately and restore staffing and transparency at the U.S. Department of Education. Strong federal leadership is not optional—it’s a moral and legal obligation for our nation’s children with disabilities.
National Organizations:
AACTE: American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
Access Ready Inc.
Accessible College LLC
ACVREP
AFT, AFL-CIO
All4Ed
Allies for Independence
American Association of People with Disabilities
American Association of University Women (AAUW)
American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
American Atheists
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
American Council of Blind Families
American Council of the Blind Next Generation
American Council of the Blind
American Therapeutic Recreation Association
Angelman Syndrome Foundation
Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired
Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs
Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE)
Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL)
Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO)
Association of University Centers on Disabilities
Association on Higher Education And Disability (AHEAD)
Autism Science Foundation
Autism Society of America
Autism Speaks
Autistic Self Advocacy Network
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Black Down Syndrome Association
Caring Across Generations
CEC Division on Visual Impairment and DeafBlindness
Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)
Center for Public Representation
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
Coalition on Human Needs
Common Coalition
CommunicationFIRST
Complex and Chronic Conditions, The Division for Physical, Health and Multiple Disabilities of the Council for Exceptional Children (CCC-DPHMD)
Council for Exceptional Children
Council for Learning Disabilities
Council of Administrators of Special Education
Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA)
Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR)
Cure SMA
Dan Marino Foundation
DCDT
Disability Belongs
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund
Diverse Charter Schools Coalition
Division for Communication, Language and D/HH
Division for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Exceptional Learners (DDEL)
Division for Early Childhood
Division for Emotional and Behavioral Health (DEBH)
Division for Learning Disabilities of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
Division for Research, Council for Exceptional Children
Division of International Special Education and Services
Division of Leaders and Legacy
Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities
Division on Career Development and Transition
Down Syndrome Affiliates In Action
Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta
Easterseals, Inc.
EDGE Partners
EdTrust
Educating All Learners Alliance
Education Law Center
Educators for Excellence
First Focus on Children
Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics
GLSEN
Griffin-Hammis Associates
Inclusive Development Partners (IDP)
Innovations in Special Education Technology (ISET) Division of Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
International Council on Development and Learning
Low Vision Technology
MomsRising
Muscular Dystrophy Association
NAACP
National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities
National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors (NACBHDD)
National Association of Private Special Education Centers (NAPSEC)
National Association of School Psychologists
National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI)
National Center for Learning Disabilities
National Consortium for Physical Education for Individuals with Disabilities (NCPEID)
National Council on Independent Living
National DeafBlind Coalition
National Disability Action
National Disability Institute
National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)
National Down Syndrome Congress
National Down Syndrome Society
National Education Association
National Family Association for DeafBlind
National Federation of the Blind
National Health Law Program
National Rural Education Association
National Women’s Law Center
Orientation and Mobility Specialist Association
Parents for Public Schools
PreK-12 Programs, New America
Prevent Blindness
School Social Work Association of America
SchoolHouse Connection
SELF – Special Education Leader Fellowship
Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC)
SPAN Parent Advocacy Network, Inc.
Success Beyond Sight
TDIforAccess
Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children
The Advocacy Institute
The Arc of the United States
The Association for the Gifted- Council for Exceptional Children
The Carroll Center for the Blind
The Center for Learner Equity
The Division of Evaluation and Assessment for Learning (DEAL)
The Hussman Institute for Autism
The National Association for Down Syndrome
The National Association of Federally Impacted Schools (NAFIS)
The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies
The Sibling Leadership Network (SLN)
TSC Alliance
United Spinal Association
United States International Council on Disabilities
VisionServe Alliance
ZERO TO THREE
State and Local Organizations:
ABLE New Hampshire
Advance Illinois
AHRC NYC
Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program
Alaska School Psychologists Association
All Blind Children of Texas
Alliance of and for Visually Impaired Texans
American Council of the Blind of Indiana
American Council of the Blind of Ohio
Arc Mid-Hudson
Arc of Onondaga
ARC of Rockland
Arizona Council for Exceptional Children (AZCEC)
Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families
Arts Education in Maryland Schools (AEMS)
Arts Every Day, Inc.
ASAH
Association for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment, Inc.
Association of School Psychologists of Pennsylvania (ASPP)
Autism Kids
Autistic Women’s Alliance
Beaver County Association for the Blind
Black Educator Advocates Network
Braille Revival League of Texas
California Alliance of Child and Family Services
California Association of O&M Specialists-CAOMS
California Association of School Psychologists
California Council for Exceptional Children
California Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition
Center of Vision Enhancement
Chautauqua County Chapter, NYSARC, Inc. dba The Resource Center
Choices For Community Living, Inc.
Clinton ARC
Club 21 Learning and Resource Center
Coalition for Adequate Funding for Special Education
Coastal Alabama Down Syndrome Society
Collaborative for Exceptional Education
CompassIL
Connections Day School
DBMAT – Deafblind Multihandicapped Association of Texas
DeafBlind Community of Texas
Delaware Association of School Psychologists
Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council
Delaware Governor’s Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens (GACEC)
Designer Genes of North Dakota
DGCKids
Disability Law Center
Disability Law Center of Utah
Disability Law Center of Virginia
Disability Rights Arizona
Disability Rights Arkansas
Disability Rights California
Disability Rights Center – New Hampshire
Disability Rights Center of Kansas
Disability Rights Connecticut
Disability Rights Delaware of Community Legal Aid Society, Inc.
Disability Rights Florida
Disability Rights Iowa
Disability Rights Louisiana
Disability Rights Maine
Disability Rights Maryland
Disability Rights Mississippi
Disability Rights Montana
Disability Rights Nebraska
Disability Rights New Jersey
Disability Rights New Mexico
Disability Rights New York
Disability Rights North Carolina
Disability Rights Ohio
Disability Rights Oregon
Disability Rights South Carolina
Disability Rights Vermont
Disability Rights Washington
Disability Rights Wisconsin
“Down Syndrome Advocates in Action Nebraska “
Down Syndrome Alabama
Down Syndrome Alliance of the Midlands
Down Syndrome Association for Families
Down Syndrome Association of Maryland
Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida
Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma
Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas
Down Syndrome Association of Delaware
Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis
Down Syndrome Association of Houston
Down Syndrome Association of Middle Tennessee
Down Syndrome Association of Minnesota
Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Indiana
Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Ohio
Down Syndrome Association of Orange County
Down Syndrome Association of Southern Maryland
Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin
Down Syndrome Connection of the Bay Area
Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida
Down Syndrome Foundation of Orange County
Down Syndrome Foundation of Tallahassee
Down Syndrome Guild of Dallas
Down Syndrome Network of Montgomery County, MD
Down Syndrome Network of Onslow and Carteret Counties (DSNOCC)
Down Syndrome Network of West Virginia
Down Syndrome of Louisville
Down to Defend, Michigan
ElevateDD
Engage New Hampshire
Families for Strong Public Schools
Families In Schools
Family Voices NJ
FIRSTwnc
Georgia Association of School Psychologists
Georgia Council of Exceptional Children
Golden Triangle Council of the Blind
Greater Louisville Council of the Blind
Hawai`i Association of School Psychologists
Hawaii Disability Rights Center
Honesty for Ohio Education
Idaho Council for Exceptional Children
Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education
Illinois Families for Public Schools
IN-SIGHT
Incompass Human Services, Inc.
InControl Wisconsin
Indiana Coalition for Public Education
Indiana Council for Exceptional Children
Indiana Disability Rights
Inland Valley Down Syndrome Association
Kansas Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Inc.
Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children
Kentucky Protection and Advocacy
Kern Down Syndrome Network
Kids First Chicago
Learn In My Shoes
Liberty ARC the Montgomery County Chapter NYSARC, Inc.
Lifeworks, Inc.
Manatee County Council of the Blind
Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities at Kennedy Krieger Institute
Maryland Citizens for the Arts
Maryland Dance Education Association
Maryland Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition
Maryland Education Coalition (MEC)
Maryland School Psychologists’ Association
Maryland Theater Education Association
Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress
Mercer County Association of the Blind
Michigan Council for Exceptional Children
Mississippi Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities
Mississippi Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition
Missouri Council for Exceptional Children
Montgomery County Association for the Blind
Native American Disability Law Center
Nebraska School Psychologists Association
Nevada Council of the Blind
Nevada Disability Advocacy & Law Center
New Hampshire Assoc of Special Education Administrators
New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities
New York State Council for Administrators of Special Education
New York State Council For Exceptional Children
NH Universal Changing Stations Alliance
NJ Community Schools Coalition
NYSARC Inc., Warren, Washington and Albany Counties Chapter
Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities in Puerto Rico (PR P&A)
Ohio School Psychologists Association
Oklahoma Disability Law Center
Our Children Our Schools New Jersey
PACER Center
Parent Information Center of Delaware
Parent to Parent of Georgia Inc
Parents Helping Parents Together, Inc
Parents of Children with Down Syndrome (PODS) of Prince George’s Co. MD
Partnership for Extraordinary Minds (xMinds)
Pennsylvania Association for the Blind
Pennsylvania Council Of The Blind
Pennsylvania Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition
People’s Arc of Suffolk
Pine Belt Down Syndrome Outreach
Protection & Advocacy System, Inc, Wyoming
Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Association
Rural Schools Association of New York
Save Our Schools Arizona
Save Our Schools NJ
SC Partnership of Disability Organizations
Sights for Hope
South Carolina Association of School Psychologists
St. Louis Arc
State Council for Persons with Disabilities
Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowement (SOCM),
Strategies for Disability Equity
Streamwood Behavioral Health Systems Innovations Academy
Strong Schools Maryland
Survival Coalition of Wisconsin Disability Organizations
Tennessee Council for Exceptional Children
Texas Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (TAER)
Texas Association of School Psychologists
The Arc Alliance, Pennsylvania
The Arc Arapahoe, Douglas & Elbert Counties
The Arc Chemung Schuyler
The Arc Erie County, PA
The Arc Greater Hudson Valley
The Arc Maryland
The Arc Michigan
The Arc Montgomery County
The Arc New York
The Arc of Alabama
The Arc of Arizona
The Arc of Aurora
The Arc of California
The Arc of Dane County
The Arc of Delaware
The Arc of Delaware County (NYS)
The Arc of East Central Iowa
The Arc of Greater Beaumont
The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh
The Arc of Illinois
The Arc of Iowa
The Arc of King County
The Arc of Macomb County, Inc.
The Arc of Monroe
The Arc of NC
The Arc of Ohio
The Arc of Philadelphia
The Arc of Rensselaer County
The Arc of Snohomish County
The Arc of South Carolina
The Arc of the Piedmont
The Arc of Washington State
The Arc Ontario
The Arc Otsego
The Arc Rockland
The Arc Westchester
The Austin Council of the Blind
The Disability Law Center of Alaska
The Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut
The San Diego Center for the Blind
The South Carolina Human Services Providers Association
Utah Council for Exceptional Children
Venango County Association for the Blind
Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Vermont Association of School Psychologist
Vermont Council for Exceptional Children
VIA (Visually Impaired Advancement)
VIPS (Vision Interventions and Parental Support)
Virginia Academy of School Psychologists (VASP)
Virginia Council for Exceptional Children
Virginia Down Syndrome Association
Vision Forward Association
VisionCorps
Washington State Association of School Psychologists (WSASP)
Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools
Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities
Wisconsin Public Education Action
Wisconsin School Psychologists Association
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DRC-NH protects, advances, and strengthens the legal rights and advocacy interests of all people with disabilities. More information about DRC-NH can be found at http://www.drcnh.org.
