Disability News October 18, 2025
Editor's Note: The disability community is increasingly preferring to use identity-first language (disabled person) in place of person-first language (person with a disability). This is because many in the community view disability as being a core component of identity, much like race and gender. Some members of the community, such as people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, still prefer person-first language. Both should be considered valid. Articles shared in this newsletter may contain one or the other (or both) depending on the author's preference, and if they themselves have a disability.
The Arc Releases Statement on Reduction-In-Force (RIF) of Office of Special Education posted on October 14, 2024 at The Arc of Massachusetts.
"This mass firing shows a staggering disregard for the well-being and future of our children. It signals an unacceptable willingness to dismantle the infrastructure that upholds the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act – civil rights laws that are the fabric of our special education system."
ACTION ITEM: Take Action: Cuts to Special Education Protections Are Happening NOW - form created by The ARC to send emails to your officials. Tell your lawmakers to protect the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. Students with disablities can't afford to lose these essential supports.
Federal Reductions-in-Force at the Department of Education and Other Agencies Harm Disabled People written by Jess Davidson on October 15, 2025 at the American Association of People with Disabilities
"Over the past few days, the Trump administration has executed massive illegal reductions-in-force (RIFs) across federal agencies, including in many offices that serve people with disabilities. The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is concerned that these RIFs will threaten disabled people’s access to education, employment, health care, housing, and more. "
Trump guts Education Department and special needs students pay the price: ‘I’m more heartbroken for the students’ - written by Eric Garcia on October 16, 2025 at The Independent
"Employees recently let go from the Department of Education amid Trump’s mass layoffs of federal workers warned that there is nobody left to oversee billions in funding and its special needs students across the U.S. who will pay the price."
Trump’s New Layoffs Hurt Disabled Kids written by Julia Métraux on October 13, 2025 at Mother Jones
"Last Friday, all but two senior staff members in the federal Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) received reduction-in-force notices, according to reporting from K-12 Drive. It was part of a scourge of layoffs. 460 people across the Department of Education received RIF notices. That is roughly one in five workers in the agency."
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