Intellectual and Developmental Disability News

Intellectual and Developmental Disability News for Week Ending Feb. 5, 2026

February 6, 2026
The Boost News

STATE NEWS

Judge rejects bid to raise burden of proof in NYC school suspension hearings Black students and those with disabilities are disproportionately removed from their classrooms. (Chalkbeat)

Arizona lawmakers keep Division of Developmental Disabilities afloat — for now (KJZZ.com)

Georgia parents file growing number of special education complaints against school districts (Atlanta News First)

School in Louisiana illegally shortened school days for student with disabilities, lawsuit claims (Verite News)

In Maryland, Advocates Say Services, workers at risk from second year of developmental disabilities budget cuts (Maryland Matters)

Developmental disability advocates in Nebraska fear proposed changes (NebraskaPublic Media)

AUTISM

FDA Removes Warning Page About Dangerous Autism Treatments (MedPage Today; paywall but can register for free)

Autism Incidence in Girls and Boys May Be Nearly Equal, Study Suggests Females may be just as likely to be autistic as males but boys are up to four times more likely to be diagnosed in childhood, according to a large-scale study. (The Guardian)

NIH director says he hasn’t seen evidence that vaccines cause autism (The Hill)

SPECIAL EDUCATION

Trump Wanted To Cut Disability Programs. Congress Just Said No Federal lawmakers approved a spending package that rejects Trump administration efforts to alter the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and do away with some disability programs. Its language is designed to thwart the  administration’s efforts to move special education out of the Education Department. (Disability Scoop)

MEDICAID

How people with disabilities could bear the burden of Medicaid funding cuts (PBS News Hour)

STUDY

Moving towards justice for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (Psychology Today)

ICE

Testimony: Minnesota woman with disabilities detained during ICE surge (Fox9.com)

ACCESSIBILITY

Snowstorms Are Hell for Wheelchair Users—But They Don’t Have to Be (Mother Jones)

ESSAY

How I Found My Voice as a Man With Nonspeaking Autism (The 74)