Kids’ Disability Rights Cases Stalled as Trump Began to Overhaul Education Department
Progress Stalled for Families Relying on Federal Intervention
As President Donald Trump began to reshape the Education Department, investigations and mediations around disability rights issues came to a standstill. For many families, this freeze meant their children’s special education services were in jeopardy.
Christine Smith Olsey, a Denver mother, had been fighting to get her 7-year-old son the help he needed. Her son had been receiving speech and occupational therapy, but she believed he required additional academic support. When her requests were met with resistance from his charter school, she filed a complaint with the state and then with the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights.
In January, her son’s case came to a halt. A department mediator wrote to her, “I have to postpone meetings with you to discuss the case. I am sorry for the inconvenience. I will be in touch as I am able.”
The Freeze Leaves Families Feeling Outraged and Adrift
The freeze had significant implications for families like the Olseys, whose children’s special education services may hinge on the outcomes of the department’s dispute resolution process. DarNisha Hardaway, a Detroit mother, was relieved when an Education Department mediator found her 12-year-old son’s school needed to reevaluate him and provide tutoring. She had filed a complaint with the department after a series of suspensions that she believed stemmed from her son being overwhelmed and not getting enough academic help.
“The Education Department made the school system do what they’re supposed to do,” Hardaway said. However, the department’s freeze on new cases has left her feeling lost and frustrated. “Every day she waits, her son learns in front of a computer. ‘He can’t learn online, and DarNisha is not a teacher,’ said Marcie Lipsitt, who is working with the family. ‘The OCR is just closed for business, and I’m outraged.'”
The Education Department’s Role in Disability Rights Cases
The Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights is responsible for enforcing protections guaranteed under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The office receives thousands of complaints each year, with most involving disability discrimination. In recent years, the office has seen a significant decline in staffing, even as the number of cases it must investigate has increased.
Parents and advocates are concerned about the future of the department’s oversight role as Trump and his nominee for education secretary, Linda McMahon, outline a vision for a dramatically reduced footprint for the agency. At her confirmation hearing, Democrats pressed McMahon on whether she would support the department’s enforcement role in disability rights. She suggested the Department of Health and Human Services could take over that work.
Families’ Frustrations
Tylisa Guyton of Taylor, Michigan, filed a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights over her 16-year-old son’s repeated suspensions from a suburban Detroit school district, alleging a white administrator has been targeting him and a group of other Black children. The teen has been out of school since December and has heard nothing about when he might be allowed to return or be placed in an alternative school.
“I just feel lost,” she said. “I’m trying to figure out what’s going to happen to my child, and I don’t know how to make it right.”
Conclusion
The Trump administration’s freeze on disability rights cases has left many families feeling concerned and frustrated. As the Education Department continues to navigate the challenges of the Trump administration, it is crucial that it prioritizes the rights of children with disabilities. The department’s Office for Civil Rights must remain committed to enforcing the protections guaranteed under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
FAQs
* What is the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights responsible for?
+ The Office for Civil Rights is responsible for enforcing protections guaranteed under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
* What is the purpose of the Office for Civil Rights?
+ The Office for Civil Rights is responsible for investigating and resolving complaints related to disability discrimination in schools.
* What is the current status of disability rights cases at the Education Department?
+ The department has frozen all new cases, leaving many families feeling concerned and frustrated.
* What are the implications of the freeze on families with children with disabilities?
+ The freeze may leave children without the support they need to succeed in school, potentially exacerbating existing challenges.
