30 days and counting. Congress still hasn’t opened the US government. Due to widespread layoffs, now only a handful of staffers remain at the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and Rehabilitation Services. Neurodivergent and differently abled youth are at risk for not receiving timely education and healthcare, protections under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Autism CARES Act of 2024.
Nearly 7.5 million students with learning differences of autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, and others rely on timely critical education, therapy, and training services overseen by OSEP and RSA. Specifically, neurodivergent youth rely on enforcement by OSEP and RSA for the timely delivery of services at schools and providers, such as individualized education programs (IEPs), 504 plans for accommodations, speech therapy, occupational therapy, behavioral supports, vocational training for transition from school to employment, job coaching, and assistive technology.
Delays in services from schools and providers further shift the burden to Medicaid-funded care programs, which are already under strain due to broader HHS layoffs and uncertain funding, compounding our concerns about neurodivergent youth receiving timely care. Nearly 1 in 36 children is autistic and often has co-occurring learning differences. We recognize that the administration has affirmed that the education and healthcare needs of neurodivergent students are a priority. However, the drastic layoffs at OSEP and RSA are very worrisome.
Furthermore, given the highly polarized nature of media communications, we youth do not have a direct channel to hear updates from the government. There is no clarity on how limited-size OSEP and RSA will deliver timely critical services to our neurodivergent peers. We strongly urge Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to: (1) restore staff to OSEP and RSA; (2) secure emergency funding to maintain oversight; (3) collaborate with Congress to resolve the government shutdown; and (4) establish a communication pathway directly to youth.
We at Youth for Neurodiversity believe that all youth deserve to feel valued and celebrated for who they are, and to receive care that helps them thrive and achieve their full potential. It is time for Congress to put aside political differences and prioritize the needs of American youth.
