More Developmental Disability News for Week Ending April 4, 2025

April 7, 2025
The Boost News

In New York, a restraining order throws up a CDPAP transition roadblock, the Trump administration’s latest orders affect “special needs” in education and community living, Georgia eliminates the subminimum wage, and more developmental disability news for the week ending April 4, 2025.

SPOTLIGHT

It seem with every new Trump administration headline comes more bad news for the disability community. In the last week-and-a-half alone, President Trump announced that: The Department of Education is closing and “special needs” — yes, it was that vague — is being moved to the Department of Health and Human Services (HSS); HSS is being gutted, with some 10,000 staffers expected to be fired; and HSS’ Administration for Community Living (ACL) will be eliminated.

Where will the ACL, the program that provides services and supports for people living in the community, actually land? And in what shape and with how many people? All unclear.

HHS firings undermine federal government’s ability to care for vulnerable Americans “The cuts, ostensibly to reduce redundancies and increase efficiency, have gutted entire agencies under the Department of Health and Human Services, and closed divisions across several agencies that explicitly deal with disability. What’s left, current and former employees say, may not be enough for the federal government to care for vulnerable populations, and imperil numerous services for aging populations, people with mental illness, and Medicare recipients.” (Stat/paywall)

RFK Jr. Moves to Close Administration For Community Living (Mother Jones)

A Second Trump Shock To Programs For Seniors And People With Disabilities (Forbes)

HHS layoffs hit Meals on Wheels and other services for seniors and disabled (NPR)

NEW YORK

Judge partially blocks NY health department’s CDPAP transition The “beleaguered reorganization” faces a new roadblock after a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order that will block the state Dept. of Health from immediately ceasing to work with companies that have facilitated the services. (Times Union)

NELP urges Governor Hochul to delay CDPAP transition amid concerns (CBS 6 Albany)

John Mannion’s first bill would block Trump from dismantling special education programs (Syracuse.com)

New Yorkers living with disability face a crisis. We have to protect them | Opinion ((lohud.com)

Mother of nonverbal, autistic student in Buffalo Schools wants answers after incident with substitute The 5-year old, nonverbal student reportedly was “a bit bloody” because a substitute teacher had hurt the student’s arm. (Buffalo News; paywall)

Disabilities Beat: What funding for Daniel’s Law would mean to New Yorkers (WXXI)

Columbia OT Students Build Assistive Devices to Empower Local Children with Disabilities (Columbia Univ.)

How the Education Department helps students with disabilities get an education The “administration hasn’t specified exactly which programs will be moved, and whether IDEA is among them, but the conservative policy playbook Project 2025 does propose moving IDEA to HHS.” (NPR)

Democrat senators probe Trump administration on the future of special education in the US (USA Today)

Special education and Trump: What parents and schools need to know (Hechinger Report)