The U.S. Department of Education has made deep staff cuts in the offices that help schools support children with disabilities. These cuts affect the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), which oversees programs that support children with disabilities. This includes the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), the team that oversees the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It also ensures every child gets the help promised in their Individualized Education Program (IEP).
For children with Usher syndrome, who may depend on thoughtful and consistent IEPs to access learning and communication supports, this is especially concerning.
Your advocacy works
Remember when we reached out last month about the administration cutting funding for the state deafblind projects? These are programs that help children who are both deaf and blind in Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin, and the five states served by the New England Consortium on Deafblindness (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont).
Because families and advocates spoke up, the funding was restored, though now routed through another organization, the National Center on Deafblindness (NCDB). This shows that your voice can make a real difference. Together, we can make a difference again and protect IDEA and IEPs for children with Usher syndrome.
What you can do
You can help protect OSERS and OSEP, and make sure IDEA remains fully enforced. Please take a few minutes to contact your U.S. Senators and Representatives. Ask them to:
- Oppose further staffing reductions in the Department of Education’s special education offices.
- Keep IDEA oversight in OSEP - reject any plan that moves it to another agency without the right experience.
- Protect and fully fund IDEA grants and programs, including the staff needed to enforce them.
Act now:
- Use this form to Tell Congress to Restore Special Education Services TODAY
- Sign this petition created by the IDEA Preservation Coalition
- Share your family’s story about how IEP supports have made a difference
- Forward this email to others in your network.
Local actions you can take
Federal action matters, but local advocacy makes a difference too. Here are ways parents and caregivers can stay proactive right now:
- Contact your state education department.
Ask if the recent federal cuts could delay special education oversight, IEP reviews, or services for students who are deafblind. Most states have a special education ombudsman or parent helpline. - Connect with advocacy groups.
Organizations like The Arc, the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD), and Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) offer resources and sample letters for families navigating IEP challenges. - Stay engaged locally.
Join your district’s Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) or attend school board meetings to share your perspective on deafblind services and accessibility. These local discussions often shape how supports are delivered. - Monitor your child’s program.
Watch for updates about changes to your school’s special education services, including deafblind support, assistive technology, or communication access. Asking questions helps ensure your child’s needs stay visible and prioritized.
Clearing up a few misconceptions
You may hear:
“It’s just being moved to another agency.”
There is no evidence that special education oversight is being transferred to another federal agency. Current reports show that most of OSERS - including OSEP - has been dismantled, with only a few senior staff remaining. This is a real loss of federal oversight, not a simple shift.
“States handle IEPs anyway.”
States do write IEPs, but OSEP ensures they follow the law and helps when families face problems. Without OSEP, families have less support to make sure schools do what IDEA requires.
“They can still distribute funding.”
Not exactly. In July 2025, the federal government withheld nearly $7 billion in education funds that Congress had already approved. 24 states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit to get the funds released. By late August, most of the money was disbursed, but not all states received it at the same time, and some faced new conditions attached to the funding. Even when the dollars arrive, federal staff at OSEP are essential to ensure schools use the funds correctly and that children’s rights under IDEA are protected.
“The layoffs have stopped.”
Not exactly. U.S. District Judge Susan Illston has temporarily paused all federal agency layoffs during the government shutdown, including those at the Department of Education. This ruling does not reverse layoffs that have already occurred but prevents new ones from being issued or enforced. A hearing is scheduled for October 28, 2025, to determine the next steps in the case.
Even though these changes sound technical, they have real effects on children's lives. Every child with Usher syndrome deserves strong support through their IEP. The protections that make IEPs possible depend on a strong, fully staffed Department of Education.
Together, let’s make sure those protections stay in place.
