Carrie Gillispie

Teal background with white text on the left side that says Disability Under Threat: Confronting Harmful Rhetoric and Policy at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Below the text is a white box with text that says Virtual February 4, 2026 12:00-1:00 P ET. On the right of the text are four pictures of the panelists with their names and titles below: Lillie Heigl, Mia Ives-Rublee, John Poulos, and Tory Cross.

❗ Register for our webinar WEDNESDAY on how #HHS policy changes have affected Americans with disabilities over the past year.
➡️ Sign up here: www.newamerica.org/education-po...

#Disability #DisabilityRights #PublicHealth #Disabilities #DisabilityPolicy #HumanServices #FederalPolicy #PublicPolicy

A black and white photograph of two young boys, one wearing glasses, sitting and listening attentively in a classroom setting. A yellow banner across the top reads "IDEA AT 50". Text is overlaid on the bottom half of the image: "The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) turns 50 this year. The law ensured disabled kids would have access to public schools and promised funding for schools to make it possible." The source is cited at the bottom.

A photo of a young boy wearing glasses, giving a high-five to an unseen adult hand. The title banner reads "IDEA AT 50". Text is overlaid on the bottom half of the image: "IDEA serves children as young as infancy and toddlerhood through its Part C early intervention services. But administrative and funding barriers mean only about half who qualify are enrolled." The source is cited at the bottom.

A graphic illustrating a classroom setup with several gray desks and chairs, and a few yellow desks and chairs highlighted in the middle. The title banner reads "IDEA AT 50". Text is overlaid on the bottom half of the image: "During the 2022–23 school year, 7.6 million students between the ages of 3 and 21 received special education services through IDEA. That’s three out of every 20 public school students." The source is cited at the bottom.

A photo of a young girl in a pink shirt sitting in a wheelchair and looking directly at the camera, leaning on a table in a classroom. The title banner reads "IDEA AT 50". Text is overlaid on the bottom half of the image: "Vouchers = fewer protections for children The use of vouchers harms students with disabilities by resulting in the forfeiture of nearly all federal protections and the loss of guaranteed special education services." The source is cited at the bottom.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of IDEA—a landmark law that ensured millions of disabled students would receive quality education. Yet, that promised education is at risk today with a federal funding gap of over $38 billion.

Mississippi’s $500 million #HigherEd desegregation settlement was historic. But dollars alone can’t undo decades of unequal power.

🏛️ Here, our senior fellow @adamhsays.com explains how governance—not just funding—is needed to shape the future of #HBCUs.

Text "Happy Disability Pride Month!" with info on Individuals with Disabilities Education Act & lifting activists/protections

Stats on protections for folks w/ disabilities before IDEA like U.S. public schools accommodated 1/5 kids w/ disabilities

Happy #DisabilityPrideMonth!

We celebrate the disability programs that help kids thrive, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)! https://action.momsrising.org/survey/Disability_story_collection/?source=bsky.mr #ProtectIDEA #MomSky

NJ schools must give parents more information about IEP meetings in advance A new law requires NJ public schools to provide parents with a written statement of items to be discussed at an annual Individualized Education Program meeting before it takes place.

A new law requires NJ public schools to provide parents with a written statement of items to be discussed at an annual Individualized Education Program meeting before it takes place.

A District-by-District Accounting of the $6.2 billion U.S. Department of Education Has Held Back from Schools The Education Department is refusing to release billions of dollars for public schools. See the impact by school system and congressional district.

Last week, instead of sending school districts the $6+ billion which they are owed by law, USED told states it would hold back the money pending a review. This is hugely harmful to schools getting ready for the school year--but not everyone is hit equally. 1/ www.newamerica.org/education-po...

Image description: Picture of an elementary school-age boy with text saying Medicaid covers costs for more than 6,600,000 children with disabilities, and the Department of Education protects their rights at school. Text blocks read IDEA/504 and Medicaid.

Picture of a physical therapist working with a toddler. Text reads Medicaid funds nearly 30% of all early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities, and the Department of Education protects all students with disabilities. Text blocks read IDEA, Medicaid, Occupational, Physical, Speech therapy, and more...

🚨 Medicaid cuts harm our youngest learners and their families. 🚨
🔗https://www.newamerica.org/education-policy/edcentral/cuts-with-consequences/

#SaveMedicaid #OBBBA #OBBB #EarlyIntervention #ECE #EarlyChildhoodEducation #EarlyLearning #ChildDevelopment #ProtectMedicaid

🚨 Medicaid cuts will affect *millions* of students who receive services and support at school. 🚨

🔗 www.newamerica.org/education-po...

#Disability #Disabilities #OBBB #OBBBA #SpecialEducation

🆘 Congress’s big reconciliation bill puts vital programs like Medicaid and SNAP at risk, threatening the well-being of millions across the U.S.

@NewAmerica.org’s Family Economic Security and Well-Being programs consider the far-reaching consequences.

🔗 go.newamerica.org/family-feder...

Contact Academic Abuse | Reach Out Today Get in touch to share your story, become a member, join the team, or inquire for more information.

Calling all survivors!

If you have been abused in academia, and you wanna talk about it, DM me at buff.ly/YLXHXGV. I'm building a "Survivor Stories" podcast because #WeAreNotAlone

🪜 🎓 📜 🍎 ♀️ 👩🏾‍🔬 👩🏼‍🔬 👩🏾‍🎓 #PhDSky #Blackademia #AcademicChatter #AcademicSky #MeToo #HigherEd #PhDChat #TimesUpHigherEd

Dog Man, Captain Underpants, and Finding Superpowers in ADHD For Learning Disability Week, Carrie Gillispie reminds us: Dog Man began in a hallway, drawn by a kid with ADHD looking to belong.

It’s #LearningDisabilityWeek. Let’s talk about Captain Underpants, ADHD, hallway doodles—and how Dav Pilkey built a publishing empire out of being left out.
🧵 www.newamerica.org/the-thread/d...

Some states struggle to recruit and retain their #teachers. How can we fix it?

Today on #TeacherAppreciationDay, we’re releasing new analysis and recommendations for school leaders to strengthen the #educator workforce by harnessing high-quality micro-credentials.

♥️🍎♥️

Young Children Face Greater Risks at School from Office for Civil Rights Reduction Civil rights violations start early, with many OCR complaints filed about wrongdoings toward young children.

Young children suffering discrimination, harassment, and abuse cannot put their development on hold while the adults in power grind their protections to a halt:
www.newamerica.org/education-po...

#ECE #ECSE #CivilRights #Disability #SpecialEducation #SpecialEd #ChildWellbeing #EducationPolicy

Waiting for What’s Next Sarah Carr wrote an article in Slate Magazine about the Trump administration's actions targeting students with disabilities, particularly, neurodivergent children.

The Trump administration's misinformation about #disability & medication could harm students with #disabilities, writes Sarah Carr:
www.newamerica.org/education-po...

Cutting the U.S. Department of Education Harms Millions of Students with Disabilities The U.S. Department of Education plays a key role in protecting and supporting students with disabilities.

Trump says special education will remain untouched despite this ED EO, but it's too late—he fired the experts. He pulled the rug out from under safeguards against discrimination, segregation, institutionalization, & harm to students with disabilities.

Details: www.newamerica.org/education-po...

A picture of a baby has the words 504 and IDEA underneath it. The text reads: The U.S. Department of Education protects the civil rights of 8,000,000 kids with disabilities including nearly 500,000 infants and toddlers.

⚖️ The U.S. Department of Education protects civil rights of 8,000,000 kids w/disabilities—including nearly 500,000 infants & toddlers. The Department makes sure states comply with laws that support America's youngest learners with delays & disabilities.

Details🔗 www.newamerica.org/education-po...

PBS To Spotlight Story Behind The ADA A documentary about the decades-long fight for disability rights culminating in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act is set to premiere.

“Change, Not Charity: The Americans with Disabilities Act” will air on PBS March 25 at 9 p.m. ET on “American Experience.”
www.disabilityscoop.com/2025/03/17/p...

Federal Cuts Threaten Babies and Preschoolers with Disabilities from All Angles Slashing the U.S. Department of Education, Medicaid, and more hurts young children with delays and disabilities.

Federal cuts to ED, Medicaid, and more might be catastrophic for supporting young kids with disabilities. Learn more:
www.newamerica.org/education-po...

#Disability #ChildDevelopment #EarlyIntervention #Education #SpecialEducation

Thank you for writing this.

What Do We Do With Monstrous Mentors? It’s time for a reckoning.

I wrote a piece about a certain flavor of academic abuse. I have carried parts of this story for upwards of 25 yrs, & I’m grateful to @chronicle.com for helping me to tell it.
#AcademicSky #HigherEd #PHDchat

www.chronicle.com/article/what...

Targeting the Vulnerable: How the Trump Administration’s Actions Harm Young Children and Their Families The stakes are high for young children in the upcoming debate about the proper size and role of federal programs and agencies.

"While the second Trump administration has only been in power for about 50 days, they have already taken numerous actions that will have a negative impact on young children and their families." Details below:
www.newamerica.org/education-po...
#Disability #Education #ChildDevelopment #ECE #Families

Minnesota Bills Would Roll Back Bans on Seclusion and Expulsion for K-3 Students Discipline reforms in wake of George Floyd's death had targeted disproportionate punishment of non-white kids and those with disabilities.

Minnesota bills would roll back the funds on seclusion and expulsion for K-3. @bethhawkins.bsky.social reports buff.ly/H0YAUv1

Cuts to SSBG, TANF Would Eliminate Child Care for 40K Children, Disrupt Care for Millions More | CLASP By Stephanie Schmit & Rachel Wilensky Federal budget proposals currently under consideration threaten resources available for children and families through multiple key programs, including the Tempora...

The onslaught of harm continues. Republican budget proposals around TANF and SSBG jeopardize the wellbeing of millions of children, as this new fact sheet from @clasp.org shows:
www.clasp.org/publications...

Cut Short: The Broken Promises of Cosmetology Education Cosmetology education in the U.S. needs dire reform. It fails to meet student expectations and leaves graduates with burdensome debt.

My colleagues @ewaspeaks.bsky.social Rachel Fishman, @jbeowulf.bsky.social and Olivia Ceche, have a new report on cosmetology education.

It costs too much, takes too long, and mostly serves to enrich the owners of for-profits schools. it needs to be reformed.
www.newamerica.org/education-po...

Trudeau announces $37B in child care deals with 11 provinces and territories | CBC News Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government has signed agreements totalling almost $37 billion over five years with 11 provinces and territories that will extend the federal child-care space program…

Big news for child care in Canada! Today, Prime Minister Trudeau announced the federal government is extending Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) funding agreements until 2031, and will investing more to build a nationwide system of early learning and child care. buff.ly/pBjWBCq

How to improve child care quality: talking more to kids A growing number of cities, states and individual child care programs are pouring resources into training teachers on the importance of talking to kids as much as possible

@jackiemader.bsky.social writes about something too often missing from early education classrooms -- talk between teachers and kids. via @hechingerreport.org
hechingerreport.org/lets-talk-te... #earlyed #education

A new poll from @educationwork.newamerica.org reveals 55% of Americans oppose Trump's proposal to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.

Read the blog to learn how dismantling the Education Department would cause irreparable harm to student learning and progress.

🎓 buff.ly/HErXtuP

Trump Education Secretary Confirmed Despite Special Ed Concerns The nation has a new secretary of education and she's angling to free her department from its special education obligations.

The nation has a new secretary of education and she's angling to free her department from its #SpecialEducation obligations. #disabilities

Cutting the U.S. Department of Education Harms Millions of Students with Disabilities The U.S. Department of Education plays a key role in protecting and supporting students with disabilities.

‼️Closing the U.S. Department of #Education will harm students, infants, and toddlers with #disabilities.

An earnest policy decision to improve #SpecialEducation would be for Congress to💲fully fund IDEA💲 (Which it has never done...Not even close.)

www.newamerica.org/education-po...