By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq. Washington, D.C. is working on its budget for Fiscal Year 2026, and there’s a real chance to make serious progress on services for students with disabilities. Meanwhile, just
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq. Last week, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at bringing back what he says is "common sense" to school discipline. The purported goal? To restore safety and respect to classrooms. But while the order focuses on race-based
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq. If you’re a Washington, DC resident, you’ve likely heard about the city’s $1.1 billion budget shortfall. And, if you’re the parent of a student who receives special education
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq. If you’ve recently been paying attention to special education, you know that there have been catastrophic shifts at the U.S. Department of Education—and not in a good way.
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq. Disability rights laws are supposed to make life fairer for people with disabilities. However, this is often not the case. Laws designed to give people with disabilities
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq. Imagine walking into the school where you’ve taught for the last decade and half your colleagues (teachers, aides, and support staff) are no longer there. You are told
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq. Will special education services and protections be kicked out of the U.S. Department of Education? If Linda McMahon, President Trump's nominee for Secretary of Education, has her way,
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq. One of the most dramatic proposals in recent history is President Trump’s renewed push to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education. On February 12, 2025, he announced his
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq. For families of students with disabilities, school isn’t just about grades or report cards—it’s about access, support, and the chance to thrive--whether alongside their general education peers, in
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq. Fair treatment of students with disabilities in schools remains a critical issue for parents, educators, and advocates alike. Federal laws like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), among others, offer some key protections to make sure children with disabilities receive necessary support without discrimination or unfair discipline. Understanding these
