Protecting the Integrity of Special Education Programs and Rehabilitative Services

Contact your Senators and Representative today ask that they help protect the current federal structure overseeing special education and disability services by opposing any proposals to dissolve or relocate OSEP, RSA, or OCR.

Dear [Lawmaker],

I am writing to ask that you support the current structure of special education and rehabilitative services in this country. With recent reports that suggest the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) and the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) may be dissolved and their functions being moved, I have significant concerns. Changes to the structure will impact the lives of individuals with disabilities, especially those in rural states.

While it’s understandable that some might view moving programs related to employment or independent living to agencies like the Department of Labor or Health and Human Services as a way to streamline services, this proposal raises significant concerns. Each of these agencies has a different mission, culture, and policy framework. The Department of Labor primarily focuses on workforce development and employment outcomes, not educational equity or lifelong disability supports. The Department of Health and Human Services emphasizes health and healthcare, which can unintentionally shift focus away from disability rights, self-determination, and inclusion.

Disability programs are not merely “employment” or “health” programs — they are civil rights and educational access programs grounded in laws like IDEA and the Rehab Act, particularly Section 504. Housing these programs outside the Department of Education risks diluting their focus on equal opportunity, inclusive education, and the holistic development of individuals with disabilities from early childhood through adulthood.

I ask that you not only support the current structure of special education and rehabilitative services but also join us to hear from your constituents directly. Join us for the IDEA 50th Anniversary webinar here https://zurl.co/eLkzW and learn more about IDEA and its impact for the last 50 years. I hope to see you there.

Sincerely,
______

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