The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights investigates the federal response to the special ed teacher shortage, disabled kids are being left behind in school shooter drills, and more developmental disability news for the week ending Nov. 15, 2024.
Spotlight
‘I’m really terrified’: Disability rights advocates concerned about return of r-word
The Boston Globe has a tough paywall, so I wanted to give this one some space. I highly recommend you read in its entirety as it speaks to a sea change in how a person heading the U.S. government speaks about and treats its most vulnerable populations.
It reports that after at least a decade of the word almost disappearing in public discourse, it appears to making a comeback “amid a backlash against woke culture and the election of a president who used it as a disparagement on the campaign trail.”
It’s been used “in many corners of the culture, including the murder trial of Karen Read, where testimony revealed that a state trooper assigned to investigate Read had mocked her in an online group chat as ‘retarded.’ It was also feeling the love on X, where, as Trump secured the needed electoral votes to win the nation’s top job, a popular tweet read: ‘you can say retarded at work now.’”
The Globe spoke with Maura Sullivan, CEO of The Arc of Massachusetts, who said that “here in Mass., where less than 100 years ago, and up until the ‘70s, and even later, people were institutionalized and the language to describe these people were words like ‘retarded,’ ‘idiot’ and ‘imbecile.’ … These were diagnostic terms. These individuals were abused and experimented on.”
It’s an important article. Check it out if you can.
New York
Disability advocates rally to protest change in Consumer Directed Home Care program Read about the Albany rally. (news10.com)
Governor Hochul Announces 24 Community-based Partners for CDPAP Plan The state will continue to announce additional CDPAP partners in the coming weeks. (Governor’s office)
A crisis over special education at NYC’s Beacon High School erupts in calls for new leadership The school has struggled to provide students with disabilities with routine accommodations. (Chalkbeat.org)
Delays, uncertainty and frustration: New York system errors put infants, toddlers at risk Parents claim that the Dept. of Health’s new EI-HUB modifying Early Intervention billing is plagued with problems. (Cnycentral.com)
Ardsley, N.Y., School District Hires New Director of Special Education (Hudsonindependent.com)
Disabled New Yorkers still faced barriers at the polls this year There likely were people with disabilities who didn’t cast their ballot or faced barriers accessing the polls. (wrvo.org)
Arc education programs in Orange County will continue through Abilities First The nonprofit now operates Middletown, New Windsor programs for students with disabilities that faced closure. (Timesunion.com)
Fire hits therapy horse-riding stable in Guilderland Investigators seek clues behind the cause of the blaze at Albany Therapeutic Riding Center. (Timesunion.com)
Outside of New York
N.J. mother says restaurant denied her family service over autistic son The mom claims that a restaurant denied her request for a highchair or stroller, leading to the family being asked to leave. (Fox5ny.com)
‘I want to scream, but I can’t.’ The hidden world of special ed settlements in Mass. Over the past decade, parents have been forced to sign nondisclosure agreements in order to secure a free and appropriate education. (Bostonglobe.com)
Oklahoma slashes developmental disabilities waitlist from 13 years to two In large part it’s because the legislature approved an additional $3 million to process applicants. (Okcfox.com)
Advocates push for cameras in special needs classrooms after arrest of Florida teacher (Foxnews13.com)
Autism
A 13-Year-Old With Autism Got Arrested After His Backpack Sparked Fear. Only His Stuffed Bunny Was Inside. (ProPublica.org)
TJ Maxx Selling Apparel Created By Neurodiverse Artists (Disability Scoop)
Education
When disabled kids are left behind in school shooting drills A school emergency or lockdown drill are especially fraught for children with disabilities. (Washington Post)
Special education teacher shortages focus of upcoming federal briefing The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will investigate the federal response to special education teacher shortages. About 70% of surveyed schools reported special education teacher vacancies in the 2023-24 school year. At the same time, the population of students with disabilities served under IDEA is increasing. (k12dive.com)
Health Care
The pathologizing of disability: Why academic medicine must prioritize accessibility Physicians with lived experience share their insights on the barriers built into medical education. (aamc.org)
Ableism
Ableism: What It Is, What It Looks Like and How To Shut It Down Among its other effects, discriminating against people with disabilities hurts their health and well-being. (Cleveland Clinic)
The Arts
Inside a Massachusetts studio showcasing the work of artists with disabilities Vinfen’s Gateway Arts was founded in the 1970s when state run institutions for people with disabilities were shuttered. (PBS.org)
New PBS Kids cartoon features main characters with autism Carl the Collector is aimed at 4-to-8-year-olds and was designed to celebrate the variety and potential of neurodivergent kids. (Washington Post)
