Parents from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Oklahoma are fighting to protect the U.S. Department of Education amid concerns over potential budget cuts or dismantling by the Trump administration. These parents, whose children have diagnoses such as autism and Down syndrome, fear that losing federal oversight could jeopardize critical educational and therapeutic services their children rely on.
During a recent call organized by the Innovation Ohio Education Fund, parents and special education teachers shared heartfelt stories about their children’s progress and the vital role of federal programs like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. These laws ensure students with disabilities receive individualized education plans (IEPs) and necessary accommodations.
“Without IDEA’s legal protections, IEPs could become mere suggestions instead of legally binding commitments,” said Jack Catalano, a special education teacher in New York City.
Parents Share Their Stories
Madison Headley, an Ohio mother, described how early intervention services and an IEP transformed her three-year-old daughter’s life. Before receiving support, her daughter struggled to communicate and often hid from other children. Now, thanks to speech therapy and specialized preschool programs, she is thriving. “Without these programs, she wouldn’t have access to the therapies she needs,” Headley said. “We wouldn’t even know how to address her sensory needs.”
Claudia Casas, a special education teacher and mother of an autistic daughter in Arizona, expressed dual concerns as both a parent and educator. She worries that funding cuts could limit her ability to provide essential services to her students and her daughter. “As a parent, I can advocate for my daughter’s IEP, but as a teacher, I fear I won’t have the resources to give my students the support they deserve,” Casas said.
Melissa Cypher, a Pennsylvania mother of two boys with autism, emphasized the importance of specialized schools and federal oversight. Her oldest son now attends a school tailored to his needs, and she credits the current system for his progress. “Moving responsibilities to other agencies would reduce access to the support we desperately need,” Cypher said.
Concerns Over Proposed Changes
Parents and educators are particularly alarmed by comments from Linda McMahon, President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Education, who suggested shifting special education funding to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). They argue this move could undermine educational progress and place oversight under an agency led by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who has promoted discredited theories linking vaccines to autism.
Amanda Sherman, a Wisconsin mother, fears that transferring oversight to HHS would shift the focus from classroom success to medical interventions. Her autistic son has flourished under an IEP, which provides the structure he needs. “Without federal oversight, special education could become a patchwork of unreliable services,” Sherman said. “The Department of Education ensures that protections like IDEA are enforced and funded.”
A Call for Continued Support
Rhys Gay, an Oklahoma father of three, including a child with Down syndrome, stressed that supporting children with disabilities requires thoughtful investment, not cuts disguised as efficiency. “This isn’t about streamlining bureaucracy,” Gay said. “It’s about real kids, real families, and real consequences.”
Parents like Sherman and Gay vow to continue advocating for their children as long as the Department of Education, IDEA, and IEPs remain under threat. “The Department of Education exists to ensure that protections like IDEA aren’t just words on paper,” Sherman said. “They are lifelines for our children.”
For these families, preserving federal oversight is not just a policy issue—it’s a matter of ensuring their children’s futures.
