March 14, 2025
The Boost News
Upending assumptions about Self Direction, New York’s CDPAP transition remains under fire, inside the experimental film that “captures” autism, and more developmental disability news for week ending March 14, 2025.
SPOTLIGHT: Dept. of Education
Unable, for now, to close the Dept. of Education — which requires an act of Congress — President Trump is dismantling it from the inside. This week, department Secretary Linda McMahon cut half of its workforce, with the biggest impact being felt by its civil rights office. Below, articles to get you caught up.
Ed Dept. created to ensure equal access. Who would do that in its absence? An excellent overview and explainer. (AP)
Trump Ed Dept. layoffs challenged in court by 21 state attorneys general It’s being spearheaded by NYS AG Letitia James. (Chalkbeat)
What dismantling Ed Dept. means for kids with disabilities This is a good “what will happen” article. It notes that students with disabilities will be disproportionately hurt, including anyone with an IEP or 504 plan, and those in general ed classrooms who get supports or accommodations to learn. (Vox)
Also helpful: What Ed Dept. layoffs could mean for students with disabilities (NBC News)
Ed Dept. layoffs gut its civil rights office, leaving discrimination cases in limbo “Some staffers who remain said there’s no way to pick up all of their fired colleagues’ cases. … Many were already struggling to keep pace with their own caseloads. With fewer than 300 workers, families likely will be waiting on resolution for years.” (AP)
Student Voice (Opinion): What losing Dept. of Ed would mean for special education (Hechinger Report)
NEW YORK
NYC Schools Get $2 Billion From Washington. Here’s What’s at Risk if Trump Defunds the DOE (The City)
Assembly and state Senate release ‘one-house’ state budget proposals There’s no change to timeline for Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) transition. (City and State)
Separately, The Arc NY’s newsletter reports some good news: Both the Senate and Assembly one-house budgets include a 7.8% increase for Direct Support Professionals. The Executive budget calls for 2.1%.
Thousands rally in Rockland to save Medicaid; Lawler booed over ‘fraud and abuse’ claims (lohud)
Bill being pushed to support medically fragile children (Fox NY 5)
CDPAP
New Yorkers with disabilities to Hochul: overhaul to key caregiver program would hurt us (lohud)
Change in Medicaid home care plan draws fire, support as April 1 deadline looms (Buffalo News)
CDPAP plan sparks protest, arrests, and confusion as April 1 looms (News 10)
CDPAP supporters want registration deadline extended (News 10)
Home care patients, workers fear ‘major disruption’ on April 1 (Times Union)
Hochul administration issues cease and desist letters to CDPAP middlemen (PoliticoPro, paywall)
Editorial: CDPAP transition is a looming care crisis (Times Union)
Thousands exit CDPAP ahead of transition deadline (Politico)
OUTSIDE OF NEW YORK
Medically Unnecessary: Kids with complex needs in Florida moved to state insurance that doesn’t help (Health News Florida)
Debate over school choice in Texas centers around low-income students and those with disabilities (CBS News)
SELF DIRECTION
Opinion: Upending Assumptions About Self Direction How SD “animates” self-determination, including for those with complex needs, have significant mental illness, and more. (Impact, from the Institute on Community Integration)
MEDICAID
Mehmet Oz, Trump’s nominee to run Medicare and Medicaid, will testify before a Senate committee Friday (Philadelphia Enquirer)
AUTISM
CDC will research widely debunked link between vaccines and autism (NBC News)
Sesame Place Launches Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program (TravelPulse)
‘It’s supposed to be intense’: inside the experimental film that ‘truly captures’ autism (The Guardian)
MENTAL HEALTH
New Study Finds Gap in Tools Assessing Emotional Well-Being in Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (Today at UConn)