To the editor,

Sweeping layoffs at the U.S. Department of Education have gutted key offices that hold accountable and enforce IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and Section 504. These are laws that define the process for developing IEPs (Individual Education Plan) and 504 Plans which define accommodations necessary to ensure equal access to the general curriculum. Millions of students are now at risk of losing access to education and vocational programs. More than 7.5 million students across the US, or 15% of all public school students have an IEP (National Center for Education Statistics 2022-2023).

During my career in special education, I was fortunate to be asked to travel to a number of other countries, with my colleague Kari Dunn Buron, to train parents and teachers on effective interventions for autistic children. Not only were we able to take information to other countries, but we were able to appreciate the magnitude of our own national public school system compared to other countries, including those in Europe. The US led the world in Special Education thanks to our national laws, leadership and funding. Each trip confirmed the wisdom and moral foundations of IDEA, signed into law by Gerald Ford in 1975. Kari and I were able to carry out our work because of the knowledge we gained through extensive training by national and international experts in the field. Individuals with Autism often do not respond to traditional teaching methods, frequently resulting in frustration, anxiety, shutting down, or even explosive behavior. Understanding the complex nature of any disability is key to programing effectively. Federal funding for Special Education made our specialized training possible, and the Department of Education made it possible for us to share our information in an ongoing and highly systematic way with educators throughout Minnesota and beyond. This training profoundly increased the likelihood of success for both students and families impacted by disability.

The U.S. Department of Education doesn’t just enforce disability rights law; it provides funding and support necessary for training educators to achieve the intent of IDEA. Children, families, schools and communities will be impacted by these cuts.

Joyce Santo

Hudson