Families across the United States are raising alarms as the Trump administration dismantles key parts of the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR), leaving children with disabilities vulnerable to mistreatment and neglect in schools.
Struggles of Families with Disabilities
Emma Miller, a single mother in Wake Forest, North Carolina, has been fighting for years to secure proper educational support for her autistic twins, Devon and Danielle. Despite being enrolled in the state’s largest school district for over a decade, Devon, age 15, still cannot read or write. Danielle, also autistic, was bullied so severely she became suicidal.
Miller says her children are high-functioning and verbal, and believes they could have thrived academically if schools had provided adequate services. Instead, she claims Wake County schools failed to reevaluate their needs, denied access to records, retaliated against her, and assigned her son to an unlicensed assistant instead of a certified teacher.
“These are the most vulnerable children being denied a basic education,” Miller said.
Federal Oversight Under Threat
The Department of Education, created in 1979, enforces protections against discrimination based on disability, race, sex, and religion. Its OCR investigates school violations and negotiates corrective actions. But in March 2025, the Trump administration announced layoffs of nearly half the department’s 4,133 employees and closed seven of 12 regional civil rights offices.
Trump later signed an executive order to eliminate the Education Department entirely, arguing that control should return to states and local communities.
Advocates warn this move will strip away federal accountability. “Without the Department of Education, there is no oversight,” said Hannah Russell, a disability advocate and former special education teacher.
Rising Complaints, Declining Protections
In 2024, the OCR received nearly 23,000 complaints—the most ever recorded—with 37% involving disability discrimination. Yet the agency is now operating with a skeleton staff.
Robert Kim of the Education Law Center warns that Black students and children with disabilities could suffer most, as they disproportionately face harsh school discipline such as restraint and seclusion. Federal data show:
- Students with disabilities are 14% of the population but 81% of those physically restrained.
- Black children represent 15% of students but 42% of those mechanically restrained.
“Something unusual and unprecedented is happening,” Kim said, describing the erosion of federal responsibility for equal education.
State Failures and Legal Battles
North Carolina law requires reevaluation of children with disabilities every three years, yet Miller says local officials ignored her requests for nearly a decade. Despite some state rulings in her favor, she continues to face school resistance.
Parents nationwide are worried that local districts will be left to “police themselves” despite histories of segregation, gender bias in admissions, and inadequate support for students with disabilities.
The Education Law Center, NAACP, and other groups have sued to stop the department’s closure, joined by 20 states and the District of Columbia. The Supreme Court, however, ruled in July that Trump’s plan could move forward while litigation continues.
Emotional Toll on Families
Danielle entered 10th grade reading at a fourth-grade level. After repeated class changes meant to separate her from bullies, she began to self-harm and now requires intensive therapy. Devon, meanwhile, continues to struggle without access to proper literacy programs or assistive technology.
“It has been nothing but problems,” Miller said. “It’s like no one cares.”
She fears for her children’s future: “I’m a single parent, and one day I won’t be here. My kids are going to be adults soon, yet my son doesn’t know how to read and write.”
What’s at Stake
- Families fear loss of federal protections as the Department of Education is dismantled.
- Children with disabilities face barriers to equal education, including unqualified teachers and lack of accommodations.
- Complaints reach record highs but are left unresolved due to staffing cuts.
- Legal challenges are ongoing, but states may soon have unchecked authority over education rights.
The outcome of these policy changes could reshape the future of millions of children with disabilities, leaving parents like Miller to fight uphill battles with little federal support.
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