November 20, 2025
Over the last two months, significant threats to special education and rehabilitation programs have arisen. In this article, we discuss what would be lost if several key offices of the Department of Education were to be eliminated or significantly cut, and outline steps you can take to respond.
On October 10, many federal employees who administer programs that serve people with disabilities were notified that their jobs were terminated. These staff work in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR), and other offices serving K-12 students. All but a handful of employees in OSERS and nearly all civil rights enforcement staff were let go. These cuts followed substantial reductions earlier this year that had already affected over 40% of OCR, as well as the employees who oversaw education research. In addition, several of the grants that serve our community, such as braille training projects and four DeafBlind state programs, were discontinued as of October 1. These cuts would have diminished future educational and employment opportunities, civil rights enforcement, access to a free, appropriate public education for blind and low vision students, and independent living services for adults.
After the shutdown ended on November 12, most or all of the terminations were rescinded. However, on Tuesday, November 18, Secretary Linda McMahon announced that six additional educational offices would be transferred out of the Department of Education to four other Departments. While OSERS and OCR have not yet been moved, the combination of these moves and the executive order calling for the closure of the Department of Education raises serious concerns about the future of the programs we care most about.
By eliminating entire offices, the Department of Education is creating uncertainty and undermining the laws that we consider so important for advancing the rights and opportunities of people who are blind and have low vision. The Department of Education does not directly provide education, but it ensures that millions of students with disabilities get the education they deserve. At AFB, we strongly support the programs administered by OSERS and the OCR, as well as the employees who carry them out. The federal government should follow well-established rules and processes that ensure that the laws passed by Congress are carried out faithfully and for the benefit of everyday Americans.
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
The programs within OSERS touch the lives of blind people across the lifespan. There are two primary subagencies in OSERS: the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), which generally serves students up to high school age, and the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), which serves adults.
The Office of Special Education Programs
The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) generally serves children from birth through the end of their K-12 education. OSEP administers grants and technical assistance for implementing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which is the federal law that guarantees students with disabilities the right to a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment.
Passed 50 years ago this month, this law was responsible for dramatically changing how many students with disabilities received an education at all and for improving the quality of their education. Part B of IDEA provides funding that ensures that school children aged 3-21 years old receive a free, appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment. It also ensures that children with disabilities are appropriately identified and evaluated and have an Individualized Education Plan. In addition, it ensures that parents have input into and the right to challenge their child’s education plan. Part C aids states in providing services to children with disabilities from birth through 3 years old in a natural environment for children of that age. Part D funds national activities to improve the education of children. These activities range from preparing a qualified professional workforce, including TVIs and O&M specialists, to funding centers that support parents of children with disabilities.
Without experts staffing OSEP, it is unclear how states would receive the funds that Congress appropriates for early intervention services and K-12 education of students with disabilities. Cuts to OSEP would hamper efforts to monitor state compliance with the IDEA and would reduce the resources available to school personnel seeking guidance on implementing the law. The loss of expertise in educating blind students could affect whether grant money is directed to impactful projects in high-need areas. Some of the programs and services that are funded by OSEP include:
- Grants for states to provide education to students with disabilities;
- Personnel preparation for teachers of blind students (often known as TVIs or TSVIs), Orientation and Mobility (O&M) specialists, and Assistive Technology professionals;
- Services that help parents and families participate effectively in their child’s education;
- Production of audio description and captioning for educational videos;
- Services that make textbooks and e-books accessible; and
- Programs that support parents of DeafBlind children.
The Rehabilitation Services Administration
The Rehabilitation Services Administration serves adults seeking employment and older adults who are blind. RSA provides funding for and oversight of programs that prepare individuals to gain or retain employment and that help older people who are blind to live independently. This subagency administers grants for vocation rehabilitation services, the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals who are Blind Program (OIB), rehabilitation training programs, and legal services programs that advocate for individuals.
The weakening of VR programs could result in fewer people being able to access services needed to retain their employment after a blindness-related diagnosis. VR programs provide a range of services from counseling and job search assistance to support accessing assistive technology and training for blindness-related skills. The loss of OIB services could result in more older adults becoming homeless or having to move in with family members or into nursing homes. As at OSEP, employees of RSA would no longer be available to provide assistance and guidance to states to meet their legal obligations and monitor how $4.4 billion is spent across 78 state agencies. There would also be less data collection and analysis, reducing the ability of Congress and the public to measure success in VR and OIB programs.
The Office for Civil Rights
OCR safeguards the rights of students in educational programs by interpreting and enforcing a variety of federal civil rights laws. It enforces legislation that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability as well as race, color, national origin, sex, or age. Prominent among these laws are Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. OCR also collects important civil rights data that helps the federal government measure progress on upholding civil rights.
OCR investigates reports of possible violations of these civil rights laws and works with schools, districts, and VR agencies to correct violations, including through legally binding agreements. In 2024, OCR handled more than 19,000 complaints. These complaints cover inaccessible educational materials and technology, inaccessible classroom buildings, inappropriate discipline of disabled students, harassment, service animals, reasonable accommodations, and so much more. For example, OCR has secured agreements with school districts requiring them to fix accessibility barriers on their websites, parent portals, and PDFs.
OCR also issues guidance to schools about different disabilities and medical conditions to explain how they may be covered by Section 504 or the Americans with Disabilities Act. Such guidance helps schools serve students correctly the first time, so that parents and students don’t have to fight for full inclusion in the classroom.
Thousands of complaints are pending, and investigation of these complaints has slowed dramatically. The reduction in staffing means that fewer professionals are available to investigate complaints from parents and students, as well as participants in VR programs. When these complaints are not fully investigated, a binding resolution cannot be made with the school or other agency, and there will be no one to follow up on existing agreements.
What can be done?
Even with the end of the shutdown, we are closely watching to see whether the full capacity of OSERS will be restored and retained on a permanent basis. Congress still has not passed a full appropriations bill for the Department of Education. You can let your members of Congress know how important full staffing at the Department of Education is and urge them to prevent future reductions in staffing and expertise for students with disabilities.
Asks for Your Senators and Representatives
Email or call your Senators and/or Representative and tell them to:
- Conduct oversight hearings in the Senate and House
- Influence the Department of Education (ED) to retain staffing in core offices, including OSERS and OCR
- Protect IDEA funding as well as OSEP, RSA, and OCR in the appropriations bills
Sample Email/Phone Call to Congress
Visit www.house.gov or www.senate.gov and enter your zip code into the “Find” box. Choose the email or phone number to use for one of your two Senators or your Representative, and send a message along these lines:
Dear Senator/Representative [Name]:
I am a constituent from [City/Town]. I am a [parent/educator/advocate].
The Administration has signaled willingness to gut or move the Office for Civil Rights and the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), which is the Department of Education office responsible for enforcing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This is the federal law that ensures millions of students with disabilities receive the services and support they need to succeed in school. The Administration has stated that it intends to change or move these programs, despite the fact that the authority to do so resides solely with Congress. Both actions threaten the education of millions of children with disabilities by preventing full implementation of the law.
I am writing/calling to request an oversight hearing in the:
- For Senators: Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
- For Representative: House Education and Workforce Committee
Please take swift action to support an oversight hearing and to protect the IDEA.
Sincerely, [sign or restate your name on the call]
