From HQ: H&V HQ, with the Education and Legislative Policy committee, have been monitoring the activities at the U.S. Department of Education specifically with regards to the Office of Special Education Programs. In conferring with our HV DHH Council and in information from other organizations, including the Council for Exceptional Children, we are joining them in asking our HV families to consider writing or contacting their legislators regarding the need to maintain the services of the U.S. DOE to ensure the continuance of appropriate services for children with disabilities. For more information, please see the attached letter to Chapters and CEC Fact Sheet.
From CA H&V: Dear CA Hands & Voices Members,
The federal government is considering closing the U.S. Department of Education. If this happens, the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), including the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), would likely be moved to the Department of Health and Human Services.
This shift threatens the foundation of special education. Children with disabilities learn best when supported by trained educators, not overseen by agencies outside of education. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees every child the right to an appropriate education, and strong federal oversight is essential to ensure states comply and students receive the services they need.
We must act now. National disability organizations are speaking out, and your voice is critical.
✅ What You Can Do Today
- Contact your members of Congress: Share your story about how IDEA, under the Department of Education, has benefited your child.
- Copy your Governor, Attorney General, and state legislators: Personal stories—told in meetings, videos, or letters (especially with photos)—make a lasting impact.
- Be polite but firm: Make clear that moving special education oversight away from the Department of Education will weaken services.
Find your representatives here: Congress.gov Member Directory
For more background, see this fact sheet from the Council for Exceptional Children: Policy Fact Sheet – Federal vs. State Oversight
The time to act is now. Decisions are being made as you read this email. Please raise your hands and voices to protect the future of our children’s education.
Thank you for standing with us,
Kasey Cain
Board President, CA Hands & Voices