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What Has Happened

On Sept. 5th, 2025, the Department of Education told the Wisconsin Deaf Blind Technical Assistance Project (WDBTAP) that their funding would not continue. The reason was some DEI language in the appendix of their original grant application. The Wisconsin DPI asked the Department of Education to look at the decision again. They explained that the DEI language was old and no longer in use. The Department of Education still refused to fund WDBTAP. Instead, the 2025–2026 funding went to the National Center for Deaf Blind (NCDB). NCDB later gave part of that funding back to WDBTAP through a new sub-grant. This allows WDBTAP to stay open until September 2026.

What Is Happening Now

The current administration has said it wants to end all DEI-A programs. The “A” stands for Accessibility. It has also said it wants to close the Department of Education, even though it was created by Congress. Earlier this year, more than half of the department’s staff were laid off. Now, during the government shutdown, the department is trying to fire all staff from three offices:

The Office of Civil Rights
The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
The Office of Special Education Programs

These offices manage more than $15 billion in special education money for states and U.S. territories. The layoffs (also called RIFs) are being challenged in court by federal employee unions. They might be reversed, but that does not change the administration’s goal. It still plans to cut or close the Department of Ed, and all DEI-A Programs. No one knows where this federal funding will go next year or what things will look like for these programs.

Why It Matters

WDBTAP helps children from birth to age 21 who are both deaf or hard of hearing and blind or visually impaired. Most of these children have four or more disabilities. They need special tools, communication methods, and family training to grow and learn. Right now, the program serves about 150 to 170 families. But census data shows there may be up to 1,500 children in Wisconsin who need these services. The program does not have enough money to find and help all of these children. Current funding might not continue next year. As of today, there is no other source of funding to replace it.

What You Can Do

Families, friends, and service providers can all help. We need to contact our Wisconsin State Assembly members and Senators. Tell them about this program. Ask them to fund it with an extra $200,000 per year to keep it running. If possible, ask for up to $400,000 per year to help the program grow and reach every DeafBlind child in Wisconsin.

Reaching out to legislators can be hard, but we are here to help you.
Fill out the Contact Survey if you want to help with the next steps in this petition.
Complete the “Contacting Your Elected Officials” form if you are ready to reach out to your local Assembly member or Senator.

Together, we can make sure no DeafBlind child in Wisconsin is left without the support they need.

#WDBTAP #Assistdeafblindkids #assistDBkids

 

https://www.channel3000.com/news/program-that-aids-deaf-and-blind-students-is-set-to-lose-funding/article_da66ffe0-5e47-4294-90a7-e26c1deaeb45.html