Ezra’s Act: Protect Children with Disabilities and Their Families

Children with disabilities deserve understanding — not criminalization.

Parents who actively seek medical care, attend IEP meetings, coordinate therapies, and follow doctors’ recommendations should not face allegations of medical neglect simply because their child’s disability presents behavioral challenges.

Yet too often, disability-related behaviors are mischaracterized and students are labeled criminally instead of being supported. Instead of collaboration, families are met with punishment. Instead of help, they face investigations.

Ezra’s Act calls for change.

Under federal law, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, schools are required to provide appropriate supports and protections to students with disabilities. When those protections fail — families suffer.

No parent should have Child Protective Services called on them for “medical neglect” when their child is:

• Under the care of medical professionals
• Receiving prescribed medications
• Participating in therapies such as ABA
• Supported through an IEP team

No child with autism or neurological disabilities should have disability-related behaviors labeled criminally without a proper disability-informed evaluation and review process.

Ezra’s Act would require:

• Mandatory documentation of a child’s diagnoses, medications, and outside services before any neglect allegation is filed
• Written parent notification and opportunity to respond
• An emergency IEP meeting before escalation to outside agencies
• A manifestation determination review before labeling behavior as criminal
• Annual disability-sensitivity training for administrators and school resource officers
• Transparency in all incident reporting

This is not about preventing legitimate reporting of abuse. It is about preventing retaliation, mislabeling, and trauma when families are doing everything right.

Children with disabilities deserve protection.
Parents deserve due process.
Schools must be held accountable.

Sign this petition to support Ezra’s Act