Civil rights protections in schools just got a lot weaker. Sweeping staff layoffs inside the U.S. Department of Education have effectively dismantled the federal offices responsible for protecting the rights of students with disabilities.  The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services has lost most of its personnel, leaving only a small team to oversee the nation’s special education and rehabilitation systems. We will closely monitor developments and coordinate with coalition partners to advocate for immediate transparency on how the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) oversight, guidance, and funding will continue.

This Thursday, Oct. 16, the State of Texas was scheduled to execute Robert Roberson, an Autistic man who was wrongfully convicted of his daughter’s death more than 20 years ago. But the facts are clear: Nikki, Mr. Roberson’s two-year-old daughter, died from illness and complications following prescribed medication—not from abuse. Yet his Autism, misunderstood at the time, was used against him in court. The Innocence Project, Autism Society, and Coalition for Texans with Disabilities, as well as individuals, have fought hard to stop this miscarriage of justice, and last Thursday, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals granted a stay of the execution. Thanks to all who responded to our call to sign the petition last week.

Autistic people deserve credible science and respect—not stigma or speculation. From The Arc: "When public officials talk about autism, their words carry weight. Too often, those words have painted the diagnosis of autism as a tragedy, erasing the dignity and humanity of autistic people. Research into the causes of autism and the support needs of people with autism must be grounded in credible science, transparent data, and the lived experiences of autistic people."

From The Arc's blogpost: "Each October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month #NDEAM is a chance to highlight a truth that should guide us year-round: people with disabilities belong in every workplace. At The Arc, we see every day how hard people fight for that simple truth. 

People with disabilities, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) such as autism, Down syndrome, and cerebral palsy, are too often shut out of jobs, despite bringing talent, dedication, and fresh perspectives. Only about 37% of working-age people with disabilities are employed, compared with 75% of people without disabilities. Many people with disabilities are excluded before they even get a chance. For people with IDD, the barriers are often even steeper, with employment rates lagging behind the broader disability community because of bias, limited access to training, and lack of employer support. We know the difference it makes when employers get it right."

The Texas Beacons of Excellence Project provides Texans with disabilities a pathway from sub-minimum pay to competitive integrated employment. The program is a partnership between the University of North Texas’s WISE program and the Texas Workforce Commission’s Vocational Rehabilitation (TWC-VR) Services, funded through a five-year, $13.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA).
 
The project works with students and youth transitioning out of high school, as well as adults currently earning subminimum wages, to provide guidance, training, and support to obtain competitive integrated employment. It involves people with disabilities, families, educators, school staff, VR professionals, and employers to create more opportunities for meaningful work across Texas.

Programs like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) provide monthly financial support to millions of people in the U.S., including many families caring for loved ones with chronic health conditions and disabilities. This support can be a lifeline, but applying for these programs and understanding the rules can be confusing and stressful. Get best practices and insights on how to navigate SSI and SSDI and how they can strengthen your family’s financial health.

People working in healthcare, education, law, therapy, and social work are invited to “Breaking Silence,” an award-winning short documentary directed by Amy Bench and Annie Silverstein that follows Walker Estes, a Deaf advocate trying to provide better access and care to Deaf people in prison, where being incarcerated and deaf is like being in a prison within a prison. Following the screening, a panel conversation will explore the ‘prison’ people with disabilities can experience in institutional settings, as well as how audience members address clients' complex needs in the face of care worker burnout. Panelists include Dr. Mei Kennedy, Tessa Bathauer, LCSW, and Erin Moran, LPC. The panel will be in American Sign Language (ASL) with interpreters for those who do not know sign language.

Join hundreds of disability advocates, professionals, and changemakers for The Arc's National Convention in the heart of Charlotte. Whether you're fighting for policy change, building better programs, or providing everyday supports for people with disabilities, this is your chance to walk away with fresh insights, powerful knowledge, and proven strategies.