Disability Scoop

Special Education In Limbo As Ed Department Sheds More Responsibilities As the U.S. Department of Education accelerates efforts to dismantle the agency, the implications for students with disabilities remain murky.

As the U.S. Department of Education accelerates efforts to dismantle the agency, the implications for students with #disabilities remain murky. #SpecialEducation #EducationDepartment

Charter Growth Leaving Traditional Public Schools With More Students In Special Ed As charter schools proliferate, a new report finds that a higher share of students with costly special education needs remain enrolled in traditional public schools.

As charter schools proliferate, a new report finds that a higher share of students with costly #SpecialEducation needs remain enrolled in traditional public schools. #disabilities

Couple Creates Long-Term Housing For Adults With Intellectual Disabilities After searching the country for a support complex where their daughter could live, the couple found that many were "either too supportive or not supportive enough" and decided to create their own.

After searching the country for a support complex where their daughter with #DownSyndrome could live, a couple found that many were "either too supportive or not supportive enough" and decided to create their own. #disabilities #housing

Trump Surgeon General Pick Says 'We Should Not Leave Any Stones Unturned' On Autism President Donald Trump's nominee to be the nation's top doctor said she's not ready to rule out anything — including vaccines — in determining what's behind rising autism rates.

President Donald Trump's nominee to be the nation's top doctor said she's not ready to rule out anything — including #vaccines — in determining what's behind rising #autism rates. #disabilities

Uber Expands Options For Riders With IDD Uber is rolling out new features aimed at making it easier for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to get from one place to another more independently.

#Uber is rolling out new features aimed at making it easier for people with intellectual and developmental #disabilities to get from one place to another more independently.

Respite Care Program Extended Under New Federal Law A program supporting respite care for families of those with disabilities and other needs is being renewed just months after backers worried it was in jeopardy.

A program supporting #respite care for families of those with #disabilities and other needs is being renewed just months after backers worried it was in jeopardy.

The $320 Million Plan For An Accessible Theme Park, Ice Hockey Arena And More The project described as an "ultra-accessible sports-themed amusement park" is designed to help families who have children with disabilities, connecting them with resources and fun experiences.

The project described as an "ultra-accessible sports-themed amusement park" is designed to help families who have children with #disabilities, connecting them with resources and fun experiences.

School Grapples With Blending High-Needs Students And Mainstream Classrooms An effort to include students with profound medical or behavioral needs in mainstream classes at their neighborhood schools rather than in specialized ones is proving easier said than done.

An effort to include students with profound medical or behavioral needs in mainstream classes at their neighborhood schools rather than in specialized ones is proving easier said than done. #disabilities #SpecialEducation

Private Equity Increasingly Taking Over Autism Therapy Centers Private equity firms are rapidly acquiring autism therapy centers across the nation, raising questions about the impact on kids in need of services.

Private equity firms are rapidly acquiring #autism therapy centers across the nation, raising questions about the impact on kids in need of services. #disabilities

Ed Department Dismissed 90% Of Civil Rights Complaints Alarming Disability Advocates The Education Department dismissed nearly every discrimination complaint — likely including many based on disability — all while spending millions to fire staff charged with investigating such cases.

The #EducationDepartment dismissed nearly every #discrimination complaint — likely including many based on disability — all while spending millions to fire staff charged with investigating such cases. #disabilities #CivilRights

High Schooler Makes Braille Keyboards For Under $10. Here's How When Umang Sharma saw an ad for a $7,000 Braille keyboard, he knew there had to be a better way. Now his nonprofit has grants from Google and Microsoft to distribute a much more affordable version.

When Umang Sharma saw an ad for a $7,000 #Braille keyboard, he knew there had to be a better way. Now his nonprofit has grants from #Google and #Microsoft to distribute a much more affordable version. #disabilities #accessibility

Kennedy's Push To Find Cause Of Autism Divides Republicans In Congress Some GOP lawmakers say HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s interest in autism is counterproductive and could cause long-term mistrust in public health, but others say any attention is good attention...

Some GOP lawmakers say HHS Secretary Robert F. #Kennedy Jr.'s interest in #autism is counterproductive and could cause long-term mistrust in public health, but others say any attention is good attention. #disabilities #RFK

'Peppa Pig' Introduces Disability Storyline A popular children's television show is revealing that a key character has a disability.

A popular children's television show is revealing that a key character has a disability. #disabilities #PeppaPig

Autism Study Of Drug Touted By Trump Administration Retracted Months after Trump administration officials hyped a drug as a possible treatment for autism symptoms, one of the largest studies examining its effectiveness in this population has been retracted.

Months after Trump administration officials hyped a drug as a possible treatment for #autism symptoms, one of the largest studies examining its effectiveness in this population has been retracted. #disabilities

School Unlocks Learning For Kids With Profound Disabilities Using the latest adaptive technology and other critical supports, a 150-student private school allows students who are nonverbal to communicate and thrive.

Using the latest adaptive technology and other critical supports, a 150-student private school allows students who are #nonverbal to communicate and thrive. #disabilities #SpecialEducation

Why Medicaid Patients Nationwide Struggle To Find Doctors When people on Medicaid look for a doctor, the search often starts with a long list of names that makes health care seem within reach. But for many patients, that list turns into a string of dead ends...

When people on #Medicaid look for a doctor, the search often starts with a long list of names that makes health care seem within reach. But for many patients, that list turns into a string of dead ends. #disabilities

Disability History Museum Set To Open A one-of-a-kind museum chronicling disability history is reopening after a five-year hiatus in a new, bigger space that's hundreds of miles away from its previous home.

A one-of-a-kind museum chronicling disability history is reopening after a five-year hiatus in a new, bigger space that's hundreds of miles away from its previous home. #disabilities

Disability Focused Proms To Be Held Across Globe More than 100,000 people with disabilities are expected at special proms planned at sites around the world all timed to coincide with Valentine's Day.

More than 100,000 people with #disabilities are expected at special proms planned at sites around the world all timed to coincide with Valentine's Day.

It's The 'Gold Standard' In Autism Care. Why Are States Reining It In? States facing budget shortfalls have begun cutting Medicaid reimbursements for services. In some cases, they're targeting therapies that many families of people with autism say are essential.

States facing budget shortfalls have begun cutting #Medicaid reimbursements for services. In some cases, they're targeting therapies that many families of people with #autism say are essential. #disabilities

He Spent 35 Years As A School Janitor. Lawsuit Says He Was Paid Less Than His Coworkers For more than three decades, Paul Rooney, who has intellectual disability, showed up to sweep floors, clean bathrooms and tidy classrooms. But his family now charges he was being taken advantage of.

For more than three decades, Paul Rooney, who has intellectual disability, showed up to sweep floors, clean bathrooms and tidy classrooms. But his family now charges he was being taken advantage of. #disabilities #discrimination

Altering IDEA Poses 'Substantial Risk' To Students With Disabilities, Advocates Warn Federal lawmakers are considering taking up legislation that would amend IDEA, a move that advocates fear could open the door to broader changes amid an already tumultuous time for special education.

Federal lawmakers are considering taking up legislation that would amend #IDEA, a move that advocates fear could open the door to broader changes amid an already tumultuous time for #SpecialEducation. #disabilities

Autism Just As Common In Girls And Boys, Study Finds It's long been thought that autism is far more prevalent in boys than girls. But findings from a new study looking at data across more than three decades suggest that may not be the case.

It's long been thought that #autism is far more prevalent in boys than girls. But findings from a new study looking at data across more than three decades suggest that may not be the case. #disabilities

High School Diploma Cost Student With Intellectual Disability Future Access, Family Says Makena Simonsen graduated with a 3.87 GPA, but reads, writes and does math at an elementary grade level. Now, her family is suing, arguing the school district gave her a "meaningless" diploma.

Makena Simonsen graduated with a 3.87 GPA, but reads, writes and does math at an elementary grade level. Now, her family is suing, arguing the district gave her a "meaningless" diploma. #disabilities #SpecialEducation

Trump Wanted To Cut Disability Programs. Congress Just Said No After months of uncertainty, federal lawmakers approved a spending package that rejects Trump administration efforts to alter IDEA and do away with some disability programs.

After months of uncertainty, federal lawmakers approved a spending package that rejects Trump administration efforts to alter IDEA and do away with some disability programs. #disabilities #IDEA #SpecialEducation #Congress

Group To Build Neighborhood For Adults With IDD Plans are in the works to develop a pocket neighborhood where people with intellectual and developmental disabilities can live long-term with family, friends, caretakers or on their own.

Plans are in the works to develop a pocket neighborhood where people with intellectual and developmental #disabilities can live long-term with family, friends, caretakers or on their own.

Children's Books Honored For Focus On Disability Experience Nine books featuring stories about various types of disabilities are being tapped for a special set of awards given alongside the famed Newbery and Caldecott Medals.

Nine books featuring stories about various types of #disabilities are being tapped for a special set of awards given alongside the famed Newbery and Caldecott Medals.

Her Son With Autism Was Kicked Off A Cruise. Now This Mom Is On A Mission To Better Awareness Royal Caribbean, which advertises itself as "autism friendly," apologized after the family of an adult with autism says an incident was mishandled by officials who lacked understanding of his disabili...

Royal Caribbean, which advertises itself as "autism friendly," apologized after the family of an adult with #autism says an incident was mishandled by officials who lacked understanding of his disability. #disabilities #RoyalCaribbean

To Teach Life Skills, School Creates Apartment Complete with a fully furnished bedroom, kitchen and dining room, Apt. 207 allows students with disabilities to build independence and develop executive functioning skills needed for daily living.

Complete with a fully furnished bedroom, kitchen and dining room, Apt. 207 allows students with #disabilities to build independence and develop executive functioning skills needed for daily living. #SpecialEducation

States Sue Over Right Of People With Disabilities To Live In The Community In a new twist in a long-running lawsuit, a coalition of states is challenging the right of people with disabilities to live and receive services in the community as opposed to institutions.

In a new twist in a long-running lawsuit, a coalition of states is challenging the right of people with #disabilities to live and receive services in the community as opposed to #institutions. #Medicaid

Schools Face Challenges Providing Assistive Technology Students with disabilities may be missing out on valuable assistive technology, a new report finds, due to limited awareness among school staff and other issues.

Students with #disabilities may be missing out on valuable #AssistiveTechnology, a new report finds, due to limited awareness among school staff and other issues. #SpecialEducation