Brief Summary

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) is at imminent risk of being dismantled, posing a substantial threat to the rights of students with disabilities across the nation. Without federal oversight, key protections under IDEA, Section 504, and ADA could be significantly weakened or left unenforced at the state level.

This means:

• Fewer protections for disabled students
• More discrimination and exclusion in schools
• Higher risks of restraint, seclusion, and inadequate support

The ED plays a pivotal role in upholding equal education for all – including disabled children. Without it, many students will face educational and support barriers that their federally enforced rights once shielded them from.
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Let Your Voice Be Heard

Sign now and stand on the right side of history in defense of disability rights, urging leaders to act swiftly to preserve the ED and protect the rights of students with disabilities.

Once the White House petition launches alongside this one, please sign both petitions if you are able.

Reaching 100,000 signatures within 30 days on the White House petition is crucial to securing an official response – make our children’s future a priority! 

[White House petition link to be added]

> > > SIGN & SHARE NOW < < <
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Share Your Story & Join the Movement

This petition is part of a larger effort to preserve the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and protect the rights of students with disabilities. I am diligently writing a formal letter to the President and members of Congress, presenting evidence supported by research alongside personal testimonials to emphasize the urgent need for maintaining and strengthening federal protections in education.

Personal stories are powerful, and I invite parents, educators, students, and advocates to share their experiences. Stories are being accepted for a limited time – reach out soon! Excerpts from personal stories may be included in the main body of the letter to reinforce key points. If you would like your story attached or considered for inclusion as an excerpt, please email me at...

Advocate@PreserveEDProtectDisabilityRights.org  

Collectively, we can amplify our voices and make a lasting, meaningful impact.
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Why This Matters

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) is essential to protecting students with disabilities by enforcing federal laws, including:

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) – Ensuring special education services
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act – Preventing discrimination in public schools
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – Protecting disabled students’ rights

If the ED is dismantled, these protections could be drastically reduced or left to the discretion of individual states, many of which have historically failed disabled students without federal oversight.

The challenges students with disabilities already face under the current system would be exacerbated, leaving countless children without the appropriate education, services, accommodations, and legal safeguards they need to succeed.
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The Impact on Students with Disabilities

Loss of Federal Oversight → Without the ED’s enforcement of laws like IDEA and Section 504, schools could reduce or eliminate special education services, depriving students of essential supports such as individualized instruction, speech and occupational therapy, and assistive technology – including Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

Increased Inequality & Discrimination → Without federal accountability, schools may deny disabled students equal access to education, leading to increased segregation and exclusion from general classrooms, fewer opportunities for academic and social development, and a greater likelihood of being denied necessary accommodations and supports.

Rise in Harmful Disciplinary Practices → Without federal guidelines limiting the use of restraint and seclusion, more disabled students could face unsafe and traumatic discipline, increasing the risk of physical and psychological harm.

As a mother of two disabled children, I have seen firsthand how vital these protections are. If the ED is dismantled or abolished, families like mine will face an uncertain and challenging future, with fewer guarantees that our children will receive the education and support they need to thrive in an inclusive environment.
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We Must Act NOW!

Once the White House petition launches alongside this one, please sign both petitions if you are able.

Reaching 100,000 signatures within 30 days on the White House petition is crucial to securing an official response – make our children’s future a priority!

[White House petition link to be added]

• Sign to urge the President, Congress, and policymakers to preserve the U.S. Department of Education and uphold the federal rights of students with disabilities.
  
  
• Every signature counts. Your voice can help ensure that all children receive the education and support they deserve while keeping their rights secure.
  
  
• Help spread the word! Share this petition nationwide to defend disability rights in education!
  
  

> > > SIGN & SHARE < < <

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2/11/25 - RESTRAINT & SECLUSION: The Role of the U.S. Department of Education

People with disabilities are the largest minority group in the United States. In the 2020-2021 school year, 17% of U.S. school enrollment was comprised of students with disabilities, based on findings reported by the Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC). That’s 8.4 million students who are protected by the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). These students also have rights under other federal laws such as Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. 

Students with disabilities rely on the oversight of the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and its Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to enforce these laws and to hold federally funded educational entities accountable when students’ rights are violated. A total of 6,409 Title II/Section 504 complaints of discrimination were settled by the OCR in FY2023, according to the CRDC, some of which revolved around violations of students’ rights in the form of restraint & seclusion.

CRDC reported that, for the 2020-2021 school year, students with disabilities were disproportionately subjected to restraint and seclusion compared to students without disabilities. Over the course of that school year, students with disabilities accounted for 14% of total school enrollment in the United States; however, they made up a staggering 81% of students who endured physical restraint, 32% of students who were subjected to mechanical restraint, and 75% of students who were forced to experience seclusion. 

There are instances in which restraint implemented in an educational setting have lead to the death of students with disabilities, including that of 13-year-old Max Benson, an autistic student who was subjected to physical restraint, which led to his loss of consciousness, and 2 days later, his life. 

The ED provides guidance for restraint & seclusion, which paves the way for potential future legislation and serves as the standard for state education departments to adhere to. Additionally, the ED investigates complaints of such disciplinary practices. 

Complaints of this nature can lead to revealing that a students’ rights were violated, such as in the case of one student who was left in seclusion for a total of 10,715 minutes in a single school year, according to the OCR. Another student was subjected to seclusion on 155 occasions, as well as a total of 157 restraints. Instances of such differential discipline shed light on the discrimination that students with disabilities often face.

As difficult and upsetting as it is to read these harrowing statistics and data on restraint & seclusion, it supports the need for federal oversight and protection in regard to equal education; it highlights the need for improvements in policies to promote inclusion and proper supports, and to reduce discriminatory or otherwise harmful practices that are detrimental to the learning experience of students with disabilities. 

I, for one, don’t want our children to lose the additional layer of protection this organization has to offer. It is evident that it is truly needed.

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