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Brad and Glenn Lomax

Black History Month: Recognizing Black Disability Rights Activists

From the start, the disability rights movement has been inextricably interwoven with Black Americans’ fight for civil rights.

The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s inspired many disability rights advocates, who used the model and tactics demonstrated by Black activists to pursue deinstitutionalization and legal rights.

Black disabled activists, as well as Black supporters without disabilities, provided instrumental support to the disability rights movement from the beginning—and strong alliances linked the two movements.

  • February 9, 2021
  • The Center
  • Blog
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The Center’s Statement on President Biden’s Executive Order on Reopening Schools

The Center applauds the new Biden administration for prioritizing students’ needs during COVID-19 by issuing an executive order supporting the reopening and continuing operation of schools. Students, especially those already on the margins, have borne disproportionate impacts from the pandemic, and swift action is necessary to ensure equity and avoid additional learning loss.

Seal Of The United States Department Of Education

The Center Signs on to Disability Organizations’ Statement on Education Secretary Nominee Dr. Miguel Cardona

In response to recent news that President-elect Biden has selected Dr. Miguel Cardona as his nominee for Secretary of Education, the Center has signed on to a statement with fellow disability rights organization thanking the transition team for their efforts and encouraging Dr. Cardona to prioritize educational equity, including for students with disabilities.

Student raising hand while sitting at a desk in a school classroom

The Center Releases Report on Enrollment of Students with Disabilities in Colorado Charter Schools

The National Center for Special Education (the Center) has released a new report examining trends related to enrollment of students with disabilities in Colorado charter schools. Through this report, the Center documented enrollment trends across the state and by authorizing entity, surfaced contributing factors, and identified opportunities for key stakeholders to make short- and long-term changes that can improve students with disabilities’ ability to access and thrive in charter schools.

Child in a mask gets her temperature taken

Ensuring FAPE for Students with Disabilities During COVID-19: A Resource for Educators

The COVID-19 global health crisis has upended the continuity of learning for students with disabilities. Despite these ongoing challenges, the right to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) for students with disabilities remains in place. As schools shift to more distance learning, teams of educators are left to redesign what FAPE looks like when they cannot be physically present with their students. This guide offers a decision-making model that aims to balance individual student needs within a virtual learning context, as well as a range of exemplars showing how this model can be applied.