Denouncing the Disintegration of Department of Education, Critics Argue for Deprivation of Resources for Disabled Students, Parents, and Advocates
Rewritten Article:
Title: Parents of Disabled Children Speak Out as Education Department Is Gutted
Maribel Gardea, a mother whose 14-year-old son has cerebral palsy and is non-verbal, fought tirelessly to get him an eye gaze device for communication in school. It wasn't until she invoked the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that the district finally relented and provided the device.
However, President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order aimed at ending the Department of Education, which could have profound consequences for parents like Gardea. Although entirely shutting down the department requires an act of Congress, Trump ordered Education Secretary Linda McMahon to "facilitate the closure" of the agency, according to the executive order.
"The experiment of controlling American education through Federal programs and dollars... has failed our children," the order reads.
The Department of Education is responsible for disbursing over $15 billion annually to serve 7.4 million students through the IDEA. If the department closes, parents of disabled children could lose federal funds and protection, as well as enforcement of their educational needs.
Last year, the department announced it would reduce its workforce by nearly 50%, a move that has sparked fears among parents of children with special needs. Gardea called the reduction, "disheartening," and expressed concern about what it means for disabled students in the U.S.
Another concern is the impact of reduced oversight from the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR). When parents cannot resolve issues with a school district or state, many file complaints with the OCR. However, the Trump administration has slashed the OCR's budget and forced seven office closures, making it harder for families to resolve disputes.
Keri Rodrigues, co-founder of the National Parents Union and a mother of four boys with special needs, worries that dismantling the OCR will mean families have nowhere to turn when schools don't treat their children fairly. Many families cannot afford legal representation or file a lawsuit, and the OCR provides necessary recourse when their children are denied an education.
Gardea and other parents of disabled children believe that closing the Department of Education is a step in the wrong direction. They fear that the decision reflects a lack of prioritization for the education of disabled students.
Sources: 1. Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (dredf.org) 2. CNN Newsroom (cnn.com) 3. National Education Association (nea.org) 4. The Arc (thearc.org)
- Maribel Gardea, who has successfully advocated for her non-verbal son with cerebral palsy to receive an eye gaze device, fears that the potential closure of the Department of Education could mean a loss of federal funds and protection for disabled children like him.
- With concerns over reduced federal oversight and protection, parents like Keri Rodrigues, co-founder of the National Parents Union and a mother of four boys with special needs, worry that the proposed dismantling of the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights will leave families without a means to address unfair treatment of their children in schools.
- Gardea and other parents of disabled children are concerned that the proposed closure of the Department of Education reflects a lack of prioritization for the education of disabled students, and they are urging officials to reconsider the decision that could have significant consequences for their children's future.
