Pa. Gov. Shapiro signs orders to bolster disability services, data protections (WESA)
Inside Trump’s 3.5% budget boost for special education (K-12 Dive)
Explainer from on the President’s FY 2027 Budget (NCIL)
The Digital Accessibility Deadline Is Here. Schools Aren’t Ready. (EdSurge)
Medicaid fraud at Minnesota autism centers was said to be rampant. Two people have been charged. (Star Tribune)
Minnesota’s plan to fight fraud underway as federal Medicaid money remains frozen (MPR News)
Kentucky auditor claims Medicaid fraud; Beshear pushes back (WASS 11)
For People With Autism, Can Restaurant Kitchens Be a Haven? (The New York Times)
Does Tylenol Increase Autism Risk? A New Study Has Answers (MedPage Today)
Florida sits on millions in unspent funds for disability care while thousands wait (Fox News 13)
Florida caregivers struggle amid disability services waitlist: ‘No one should ever experience this’ (Fox 13)
CT governor backs off plan to sunset Community First Choice home care program (CTmirror.com)
A bill explores making NH a ‘technology first’ state on disability. Here’s what that means. (New Hampshire Bulletin)
STUDY: Parents of Kids With Neurodevelopmental Disorders May Face Greater Heart Risk (MedPage Today)
Rent Will Get a Majority Neurodiverse, Disabled NYC Staging (Playbill)
A governor made news this week for actually wanting to help people with disabilities. The governor in question is Pennsylvania’s Josh Shapiro, who signed three promising executive orders. They are to:
How these orders will manifest themselves and whether they’ll actually help those with disabilities remains to be seen, but it’s a start, and has people talking. Katy Foxen Faivre of the New York Alliance for Developmental Disabilities, for one, said, “I’m ready to volunteer for [a commission] when [NYS] Governor Kathy Hochul follows suit. … We need a direct line to our leadership.”
Pa. Gov. Shapiro signs orders to bolster disability services, data protections (Pittsburgh NPR)
Press Release (PAgov)
Long-Awaited Safeguards For Medicaid Home And Community-Based Services Put On Hold Under the 2024 regulation “Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services,” states must create a grievance process so that beneficiaries in traditional Medicaid plans can file complaints against a provider or state if they have trouble receiving the home and community-based services called for in their service plan. It was supposed to be in place by July 9, but now CMS says it will not take any enforcement action until Dec. 31, 2027. (Disability Scoop/paywall)
Inside Trump’s 3.5% budget boost for special education For more on education and the budget, see last week‘s newsletter. (K-12 Dive)
Explainer from on the President’s FY 2027 Budget A look at the budget justification document from the Dept. of Health and Human Services, released after President’s Trump’s budget announcement on April 3. (NCID)
The Digital Accessibility Deadline Is Here. Schools Aren’t Ready. More on the ADA rule, which set varying deadlines for school districts and state and local governments (April 2026 or April 2027) based on population size. (EdSurge)
Medicaid fraud at Minnesota autism centers was said to be rampant. Two people have been charged. (Star Tribune)
Minnesota’s plan to fight fraud underway as federal Medicaid money remains frozen (MPR News)
Kentucky auditor claims Medicaid fraud; Beshear pushes back (WASS 11)
For People With Autism, Can Restaurant Kitchens Be a Haven? (The New York Times)
Does Tylenol Increase Autism Risk? A New Study Has Answers Yes, there’s another study showing no link. (MedPage Today)
Note: This starts with New York, where a majority of The Boost’s readership currently is based, and continues alphabetically by state.
NYS Governor Hochul Announces Awards Totaling $25 Million to Expand Health Clinics and Improve Access to Healthcare Services for People With Developmental Disabilities The release from OPWDD notes that NYU’s Oral Health Center for People with Disabilities received the single largest award of $5 million. (Governor.ny)
Medicaid and SNAP are set for an overhaul. Colorado counties and lawmakers are wondering how to respond. (Aspen Times)
CT governor backs off plan to sunset Community First Choice home care program Under the service, people with disabilities that require long-term services at home are able to self-direct their own caregiving services. Under the governor’s budget, state officials wanted to change it into a waiver structure. (CTmirror.com)
Florida sits on millions in unspent funds for disability care while thousands wait Around 16,000 Floridians with severe disabilities remain on a state waitlist for home-based care; some wait most of their lives. (Fox News 13)
Florida caregivers struggle amid disability services waitlist: ‘No one should ever experience this’ (Fox 13)
Archdiocese of Chicago, public school system spar over halt in special education services (The Pillar)
Maryland bill to cut red tape for developmental disability waivers nearing approval Advocates say approval would be a small victory for the community that has been hit twice by steep budget cuts to services. (Maryland Matters)
Mississippi exposed to SNAP penalties after legislation dies (Mississippi Today)
A bill explores making NH a ‘technology first’ state on disability. Here’s what that means. It would mean the state prioritizes new technologies that might be able to mitigate the need for hard-to-come-by Direct Support Professionals. (New Hampshire Bulletin)
Pittsburgh Public Schools eyes proactive discipline approach for students with special needs The district plans to shift from a reactive discipline model to a preventative approach. (Trib Live)
A proposed crackdown on corporate landlords could threaten Philly-area homes for people with intellectual disabilities Providers say it could destabilize housing for residents with I/DD by sweeping certain group home landlords into a ban aimed at Wall Street-style investors. (WHYY)
STUDY: Parents of Kids With Neurodevelopmental Disorders May Face Greater Heart Risk (MedPage Today)
Rent Will Get a Majority Neurodiverse, Disabled NYC Staging (Playbill)
OPINION: Special agents: the rise of the neurodivergent hero in TV crime drama (The Conversation)
Many of you are familiar with Denver’s Gang of 19, which became the core of the disability civil rights group ADAPT, known for civil disobedience protests around the country. Now, reports NPR, nearly 50 years after the Gang of 19 blocked two city buses at one of the busiest intersections in downtown Denver to demand that buses be wheelchair accessible, that city has decided to honor their remarkable fight.
NPR’s article, In 1978, they stopped buses — and helped launch a disability rights movement, doubles as a fascinating look at an important piece of history as well as a news report on Denver’s multi-million dollar renovation of the city’s Civic Center Park, which will include a memorial plaza with the name of each member of the Gang of 19 etched into a large medallion on the ground. It’s worth a read.
Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2027 (The White House)
Trump Budget Calls for Eliminating Key Disability Programs Among other things, the plan would stop directing federal funds to the nation’s university centers on developmental disabilities, and close the Administration for Community Living — with many of its functions absorbed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children, Families and Communities. An extra $100 million would go to Centers for Independent Living. As for the IDEA, it would giveth and taketh away. See the Mother Jones link for more info. (Disability Scoop/paywall)
Trump’s Budget Request Cuts Programs That Help Ordinary Americans and Sinks That Money Toward War (American Progress)
Hold off on Celebrating Trump’s Proposal to Increase Disability Education Funding While some funding for IDEA would be consolidated, the budget also included an additional $500 million for the program. Disability experts are especially wary of other aspects of what OMB head Russell Vought, Project 2025’s architect, put forward, especially “returning control of education back to America’s families.” (Mother Jones)
New York pushes back against allegations of widespread Medicaid fraud (Politico/paywall)
Oklahoma Medicaid fraud unit concludes investigations into health care providers across 10 counties (KGOU.org)
Oregon cracks down on Medicaid fraud, announces charges and convictions in multiple cases (KOIN.com)
Texas AG to ‘leverage’ DOGE data to investigate ‘dozens’ of Medicaid providers for potential fraud (NPR North Texas)
OPINION: Adults with autism, parents who love them face housing crisis A relatable look at an aging parent and their child’s need for housing. (GoErie)
Some Advocates Concerned As States Push for Cameras in Special Education Classrooms (EdSurge)
Education Dept. Scraps Some Civil Rights Agreements The reportedly unprecedented move concerns the rights of transgender students, but doesn’t bode well for agreements in general. (Inside Higher Education)
Why Are State Departments of Early Childhood Education So Trendy Right Now? (The 74)
REPORT: AARP’s Valuing the Invaluable 2026 Here, some key takeaways:
OPINION: I’m one of 48 million unpaid caregivers. Health care collapses without us. (USA Today)
Note: This starts with New York, where a majority of The Boost’s readership currently is based, and continues alphabetically by state.
NY Advocates Demand Transparency After CDPAP Overhaul Nearly one year after the home care Medicaid program was revamped, advocates demand honesty on how the saved-up cash by the state is being used or where it is coming from. (Able News)
CT lawmakers press DDS officials about ‘disturbing’ report on abuse, neglect in CT’s disability system (Yahoo via CT Insider)
Georgia Senate passes $38.5B budget with funding boost for services for people with disabilities The spending plan is destined to now be hashed out behind the scenes by leaders of both chambers. (WABE.org)
Idaho lawmakers dodged Medicaid expansion repeal. But what did they do with Medicaid? Some not-so-good stuff, such as cutting pay rates for providers who care for people with disabilities. (Idaho Capital Sun)
Louisiana parents could get more power in special education disputes When a parent believes their child’s public school isn’t providing them with an appropriate education — what federal law requires — the burden of proof is on the parent. A potential new law would transfer the burden of proof to the schools. (WWNO.org)
Federal judge dismisses lawsuit alleging Louisiana charter school entrance exam excludes students with disabilities New Orleans disability attorney Chris Edmunds said the ruling is “the first time that any federal court in the country has ever allowed a public school to exclude students with intellectual disabilities.” (Nola.com)
Missouri property tax votes could curb services for people with disabilities (Missouri Independent)
RJ’s Law: Missouri lawmakers near creation of ‘Purple Alert’ system to help locate individuals with developmental disabilities (News-Press Now)
Disability rights groups fight to protect privacy and voting rights of Wisconsinites under guardianship (WisPolitics via The Accessible Voting Booth)
Bike-riding camp for individuals with disabilities coming to Charlottesville (29news.com)
The Trump administration’s crackdown on so-called Medicaid “fraud” has been ramping up since the budget reconciliation law, passed in July 2025, reduced federal financial support to the Medicaid Program. Few claim that the program is entirely free of fraud, but the administration’s overly aggressive moves are already making access to Medicaid services more difficult for eligible people with disabilities.
To help track the attacks on this vital program, The Boost has created a brief timeline. It’s not meant to be definitive. Please feel free to reach out with any corrections or pertinent additions.
To start things off, here are two articles that give the attacks on Medicaid some context: Oz Escalates Medicaid Fraud Claims and The Minnesota Fraud Scandal and the Fallout, Explained.
SEPT. 2022: The first arrests in a set of Minnesota Medicaid fraud cases.
DEC. 12 2024: FBI raids targeting two autism treatment providers in Minnesota.
DEC. 30, 2024: A video is posted by a conservative YouTuber, with help from Minnesota Republicans, “alleging widespread fraud in child care centers owned by members of the Somali community. A follow-up state investigation of the child care centers that were featured in the video [determines that all are] ‘operating as expected.'”
JULY 4, 2025: President Trump signs the budget reconciliation law, which reduces federal financial support to the Medicaid program. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the program will be cut by $326 billion over 10 years, and increase the number of people who are uninsured by 5.3 million in 2034.
The Arc points out that in reality, the law shifts to states and Medicaid beneficiaries’ “costs and administrative burdens that previously were financed by the federal government, making access to Medicaid services more difficult for eligible people with disabilities.”
FEB. 25, 2026: Trump administration announces Major Crackdown on Health Care Fraud with The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) opening investigations into several states’ Medicaid programs, citing potential fraud in Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS).
Additionally, CMS says it will look to stakeholders to provide input on additional ways the agency can tackle fraud prevention to help inform the development of a possible future rule under CMS’ Comprehensive Regulations to Uncover Suspicious Healthcare (CRUSH) initiative.
MARCH 3, 2026: House Committee on Energy & Commerce (E&C) leaders announce an expanded investigation into alleged nationwide Medicaid fraud, targeting 10 additional states. They send letters to 10 additional states to request information and documents on the actions each state is taking to strengthen Medicaid program integrity. [*Note: Read a response to these letters at the bottom of timeline.]
MARCH 9, 2026: The Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities submits a letter to members of the Senate and House of Representatives on the critical role and efficiency of HCBS in the lives of people with disabilities and older adults, and opposing the “continued attacks” on HCBS.
MARCH 16, 2026: Trump establishes the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, to be led by Vice President JD Vance. Its mission: “Advise the President and coordinate government-wide efforts to combat widespread fraud, waste, and abuse in Federal benefit programs.”
MARCH 16, 2026: The non-profit KFF publishes an issue brief explaining the administration’s new approach to potential fraud, which involves deferring and withholding federal Medicaid payments when fraud is suspected, which “could have broad implications for states and enrollees.”
Medicaid, and so those we love and help care for, is under attack. Please keep an eye out for petitions to sign and advocacy groups to join.
*On March 15, 2026, Shasta Kearns Moore of the Medical Motherhood newsletter wrote a devastatingly personal look at the letter sent by E&C to her home state of Oregon, which she shares. I recommend you read Medicaid ‘Fraud’ Witch Hunt Begins in full, but here are some excerpts:
Kearns Moore writes that “those of us with these services understand intimately that we already live inside a system built around proving eligibility over and over again.
“In many American disability households, managing Medicaid compliance is an unpaid part-time job. … And yet our society and our public assistance programs ask them to spend time and energy proving their need and their worth over and over and over again. … All this for conditions that any doctor could tell you are lifelong.
“In a thousand ways, on a thousand different days, we are forced to answer the question: Do you deserve it? Do you deserve it? Do you deserve it?”
This past week, President Trump again did the disability community wrong. This time around, he claimed that California Governor Gavin Newsom Shouldn’t Be President Because He Is Dyslexic.
Then he doubled down: “I know it’s highly controversial to say such a horrible thing — the president of the United States. Gavin Newscum [his very presidential nickname for the governor] admitted that he has learning disabilities, dyslexia, everything about him is dumb.
Trump’s highly offensive and discriminatory ableist language is part of a well-established GOP strategy of punching down and treating vulnerable people as “other.” Let’s not forget this when the mid-terms role around.
SSI Could Be Updated For 7.4 Million Americans A bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced the Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act; it would raise key thresholds, end the marriage penalty, extend coverage to U.S. territories, and index changes to inflation. (Newsweek)
Fair Wages for Home Care Workers Act Introduced in Senate and House U.S. Sens. Patty Murray and Andy Kim introduced the bicameral Fair Wages for Home Care Workers Act -, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced companion legislation in the House, to address the exclusion of home care workers from the Fair Labor Standards Act. (Murray.senate.gov)
New independent autism group meets to counter MAHA’s ‘ideological agenda’ (NPR)
Here’s Why Dozens of Autism Publications Were Retracted Springer Nature has retracted publications that relied on images with the faces of allegedly autistic children; however, there were major problems with how it was put together. (MedPage Today)
Governors promote special ed initiatives in annual addresses They were a priority for governors in states including Idaho, Kansas, New Mexico and Pennsylvania. (K-12 Dive)
Note: This starts with New York, where a majority of The Boost’s readership currently is based, and continues alphabetically by state.
NYS disability advocates urge lawmakers to boost pay for direct care workers (Rome Sentinel)
Commentary: Senate must act to ensure disabled New Yorkers always have a voice Legislation to protect the communication rights of people with disabilities is stuck in committee. (Times Union)
NY’s CDPAP overhaul could upend insurance coverage for aides (Crain’s New York/paywall)
OPINION: Commentary: New York’s home care transition was a mess. Here’s a chance for accountability. (Times Union)
Special ed teacher arrested in NY district roiled by ‘timeout box’ controversy (Times Union)
‘Unbelievably cruel’: Conn. advocates decry threat to home care program (CT Mirror)
Dept. of Ed says District of Columbia Public Schools discriminated against kids with disabilities Some students wait four months or longer for evaluations. (NBC Washington)
Georgians with disabilities, advocates describe urgent need for support There are over 1,000 people in urgent need of Medicaid waivers that help pay for daily support at home or in community homes. (gpb.org)
How will the Idaho Legislature cut the Medicaid budget? Likely disability services, lawmakers say (Idaho Capital Sun)
More Iowa care homes cited for violations related to disabled residents’ money State inspectors allege that residents’ debit cards and gift cards were used for ‘fraudulent’ purchases. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)
Maryland advocates notch some gains, but say $126 million cut to DDA funds is still ‘painful’, ‘unacceptable (Maryland Matters)
Adult-Size Changing Tables To Be Required At Major Airports Under the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act, all medium and large airports seeking federal airport development project grants must have at least one private universal changing station in each terminal starting in 2030. (Disability Scoop/Paywall)
Zero Project Report 2026 The annual Zero Project Report on innovative practices and policies supporting the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD): 82 innovative solutions from 51 countries. (Zero Project)
Down syndrome non-profit CoorDown issues a powerful plea to retire the R-word For World Down Syndrome Day 2026 (March 21), CoorDown launched “Just Evolve,” an international campaign urging society to leave the R-word, and all offensive language about disability, in the past. (The Drum)
Doctor creates adaptive crayons for children with developmental disabilities (Wkow.com)
The Boom in Autism Therapy Is Medicaid’s Fastest-Growing Jackpot (WSJ)
$11B NY Medicaid contractor accused of ‘fiscal and operational failures’ in other states (The New York Post)
NYS Guide to 2026 State Budget Fight (NY Focus)
NYC 2025 graduation rate dips, fueled by declines among students with disabilities and English learners (Chalkbeat)
Impact of Colorado budget cuts gets real as lawmakers start trimming Medicaid programs (CPR)
Colorado bill to end forced sterilization of people with disabilities moves through Senate (KKCO
Massachusetts Unseals Records of Abuse of Disabled People in State Institutions (Truthout)
Report: 50 Minnesota school districts still using ‘seclusion’ rooms (News from the States)
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signs literacy, special education bills into law (Source New Mexico)
NC legislators, alarmed over increasing cost of autism therapy, search for ways to control it (NC Newsline)
Texas students with disabilities struggle to qualify for extra school voucher funds (Texas Tribune)
FDA finds little evidence that the generic drug leucovorin can help most people with autism (PBS)
Federal autism advisory board cancels first public meeting since overhaul (Stat News)
OPINION: Why cameras belong in NJ’s group homes for the disabled (NorthJersey.com)
The Wall Street Journal’s paywall means some of you won’t be able to access “The Boom in Autism Therapy Is Medicaid’s Fastest-Growing Jackpot,” an article that’s been getting some buzz. So, here are some bullet points:
Read the whole article here. (WSJ)
Note: This starts with New York, where a majority of my readership currently is based, and then continues alphabetically by state.
$11B NY Medicaid contractor accused of ‘fiscal and operational failures’ in other states Public Partnerships LLC (PPL) was brought in to replace hundreds of middlemen in the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) as a cost saving measure in 2024. (The New York Post)
NYS Guide to 2026 State Budget Fight (NY Focus)
NYC 2025 graduation rate dips, fueled by declines among students with disabilities and English learners It was the largest year-over-year decline in more than two decades. (Chalkbeat)
Impact of Colorado budget cuts gets real as lawmakers start trimming Medicaid programs (CPR)
Colorado bill to end forced sterilization of people with disabilities moves through Senate (KKCO
Advocates say proposed changes to MaineCare would take services away from kids with disabilities (Maine Public)
Advocates warn potential budget cuts could impact services for adults with disabilities in Mass. (Boston25 News)
Massachusetts Unseals Records of Abuse of Disabled People in State Institutions “Our estimate is that we’ve opened more than 10 million records with this law. … Family members have a right to see that information, know it, and safeguard it. And eventually the public does as well, so that it can understand the enormous atrocity that has occurred.” (Truthout)
Report: 50 Minnesota school districts still using ‘seclusion’ rooms (News from the States)
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signs literacy, special education bills into law (Source New Mexico)
NC legislators, alarmed over increasing cost of autism therapy, search for ways to control it (NC Newsline)
Texas students with disabilities struggle to qualify for extra school voucher funds (Texas Tribune)
FDA finds little evidence that the generic drug leucovorin can help most people with autism It approved the drug for a rare brain disorder, a major step back from Trump and FDA commissioner Marty Makary announcing the drug was under review to benefit patients with autism. (PBS)
‘Betrayed’: Families are dealing with dashed hopes after pivot on leucovorin (CNN)
Federal autism advisory board cancels first public meeting since overhaul No reason was given. (Stat News)
INTERVIEW: Life with my autistic sons: ‘How do you explain all the worries, the sleepless nights? James Hunt posts about his boys a way to describe the emotions and experiences of their lives. He realized they weren’t alone. (The Guardian)
US Department of Labor selects participants for national effort to expand employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, New York, Tennessee and the District of Columbia will participate as “core states” in fiscal year 2026 in its National Expansion of Employment Opportunities Network initiative. (DOL.gov)
California studio helps autistic adults channel creativity into Hollywood careers Exceptional Minds trains autistic adults for Hollywood careers, and its graduates provide visual effects and animation work for major studios. (Reuters)
OPINION: Why cameras belong in NJ’s group homes for the disabled (NorthJersey.com)
Traveling With Disabilities Is Often Hard. These Tools Can Help. (New York Times)
Autism researchers form independent committee as counter to Kennedy-appointed group (Reuters)
Study suggests Trump’s unproven autism claims influenced care (AP)
Trump’s Cuts to Medicaid Threaten Services That Help Disabled People Live at Home (KFF Health News)
Trump administration widens its anti-fraud efforts with a Medicaid probe in New York (AP)
In lawsuit, Minnesota accuses Trump administration of ‘weaponizing’ Medicaid funding (NPR)
Understanding Medicaid Home Care Amid CMS Focus on Potential Fraud and Abuse (KFF)
Families turn to states for civil rights support as Trump dismantles the Ed Dept. (AP)
Special Ed Enrollment Tops 8 Million Nationwide (Disability Scoop/paywall)
What’s Driving the Spike in College Students with Disabilities (New York Times)
Colorado allegedly wrongly spent $78M on autism therapy, Office of the Inspector General says (Colorado Sun)
Delaware lawmakers consider requests to boost Medicaid reimbursements (wdel.com)
Idaho considers an ‘apocalyptic’ choice for disabled people and families (19th News)
Maryland families ‘can’t even imagine’ impact of Gov. Moore’s disability funding cuts (Fox Baltimore)
Maryland legislators introduce bills to help locate people with disabilities who elope (WYPR.org)
Nebraska court greenlights challenge to one-size-fits-all disability care mandate (Pacific Legal)
Bill seeks to address abuse and neglect in New Hampshire’s disability care system (New Hampshire Bulletin)
DOJ set to file suit against New York Gov. Hochul’s admin over allegedly rigged revamp of NY’s $11B Medicaid homecare program, CDPAP (New York Post)
The Moral Energy Problem (Psychology Today)
Maryland entrepreneur with autism expands pretzel company after millions watch online (WUSA9)
Autism researchers form independent committee as counter to Kennedy-appointed group Health Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s remade panel that guides national autism policy includes members with ties to groups that link vaccines to autism, contrary to scientific evidence. (Reuters)
Study suggests Trump’s unproven autism claims influenced care Tylenol orders for pregnant women showing up in ER rooms dropped and prescriptions of leucovorin for children rose. Doctor groups say that leucovorin shouldn’t be broadly used for autism. (AP)
Trump’s Cuts to Medicaid Threaten Services That Help Disabled People Live at Home (KFF Health News)
Trump admin widens anti-fraud efforts with Medicaid probe in New York It comes a week after the administration froze nearly $260 million in Medicaid funding in Minnesota over similar accusations. Targeted Democratic state officials have decried the moves as politically motivated and potentially disastrous. (AP)
In lawsuit, Minnesota accuses Trump administration of ‘weaponizing’ Medicaid funding (NPR)
Understanding Medicaid Home Care Amid CMS Focus on Potential Fraud and Abuse (KFF)
Red states target SNAP fraud, errors under threat of costly federal penalties (Stateline)
Chicago company offers model as Illinois phases out subminimum wages The state law diverges from the U.S. Department of Labor’s 14(c) waiver program, which allows employers to pay less than minimum wage to workers whose disabilities. (Axios)
Special Ed Enrollment Tops 8 Million Nationwide Nearly 8.2 million kids ages 3 to 21 qualified for special ed services in 2024, an increase of more than 300,000 compared to 2023. (Disability Scoop/paywall)
Families turn to states for civil rights support as Trump dismantles the Ed Dept. (AP)
Special ed advocates warn against future program transfers Moving IDEA services out of the Ed Dept. could diminish oversight for civil rights and accountability. (K-12 Dive)
What’s Driving the Spike in College Students with Disabilities Universities have admitted significantly more students with disabilities over the last decade as diagnoses for A.D.H.D. and anxiety increase. (New York Times)
Ed Dept. urged to broaden ‘professional’ student definition Professional students will be able to borrow $100,000 more than grad students going into health care, education and more. (Higher Ed Dive)
Colorado wrongly spent $78M on autism therapy, Office of Inspector General says (Colorado Sun)
Delaware lawmakers consider requests to boost Medicaid reimbursements (WDEL.com)
Idaho considers an ‘apocalyptic’ choice for disabled people and families A look at the state’s difficult budget decisions. (19th News)
Maryland families ‘can’t even imagine’ impact of Gov. Moore’s disability funding cuts (Fox Baltimore)
Maryland legislators introduce bills to help locate people with disabilities who elope (WYPR.org)
Nebraska court greenlights challenge to one-size-fits-all disability care mandate (Pacific Legal)
Bill seeks to address abuse and neglect in New Hampshire’s disability care system (New Hampshire Bulletin)
NJ working group says special ed program goals must be measurable, parents need more time to prepare (Chalkbeat)
DOJ set to file suit against New York Gov. Hochul’s admin over allegedly rigged revamp of NY’s $11B Medicaid homecare program, CDPAP It could hone in on accusations surrounding the homecare mess, including alleged bid rigging and non-compliance with Medicaid billing rules, sources say. (New York Post)
The Moral Energy Problem Two Dutch researchers explain “the quiet hopelessness” of parents of disabled children. (Psychology Today)
The disability squeeze: Out-of-pocket expenses and unmet needs for disability-related goods and services in the U.S. (Disability and Health Journal)
The limited role of sex ed and contraception use in unintended pregnancy by disability status among young adults (Disability and Health Journal)
Survey Results: State Perspectives on Potential Medicaid Disability Service Reductions (Center for Health Care Strategies)
Maryland entrepreneur with autism expands pretzel company after millions watch online (WUSA9)
Has Arizona ESA expansion hurt students with disabilities? (KTAR.com)
In Calif., special ed a flash point in negotiations with teachers (EdSource)
Report shows 4,246 abuse allegations, 15 deaths, in Connecticut’s disability system in 2024 (CT Insider)
CDPAP shift worsened reimbursement gap for high-need care as advocates push $50 million budget fix (NY State of Politics)
Trump’s surgeon general pick grilled on vaccines (USA Today)
Is autism preventable in certain cases after all? Some scientists say yes. (Washington Post)
Ghosts in the machine: Congressional watchdog finds significant gaps in federal health care and disability data (Prism Reports)
Respite Care Program Extended Under New Federal Law (Disability Scoop)
Special education enrollment keeps growing. These 3 graphics show how. (K-12 Dive)
Trump administration expands efforts to dismantle the Education Department (Politico)
COMMENTARY: The Airlines and Airline Manufacturers Have Had 42 Years to Support Passengers with Disabilities – They Have Failed Miserably (National Center for Public Policy Research)
An Accessible Housing Model Built to Be Scaled (New York Times)
Georgia State Experts to Help Lead Landmark Study of Profound Autism (Georgia State University)