Sounding the Alarm: The Systematic Dismantling of Protections for Disabled Individuals

With so much happening in our country, it’s all too easy to overlook one community facing irreversible harm under this administration—the disability community. Among the many attacks on civil rights, one of the most devastating is the systematic dismantling of protections for disabled individuals.

What many opponents of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEI(A)) fail to recognize is that these initiatives also safeguard the rights of people with disabilities—an often-overlooked yet significant part of our population. According to the CDC, 1 in 4 adults in the United States—over 70 million people—reported having a disability in 2022. That figure doesn’t even include the 15% of school-aged children receiving special education services.

 At the heart of this crisis is the attack on key legal safeguards, including:

1. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) & Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

The U.S. Department of Education is responsible for enforcing IDEA and Section 504, which protect the rights of millions of students with disabilities. These laws provide crucial accommodations such as Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and 504 Plans, ensuring access to Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). Without these protections, countless children will be left without the support they need to learn and thrive.

2. Texas v. Becerra: A Dangerous Legal Precedent

In a shocking move, Texas—leading 16 other states—has filed a lawsuit to eliminate Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. If successful, this lawsuit would remove federal protections that currently shield disabled individuals from discrimination in education, employment, healthcare, and federally funded programs. The implications are catastrophic: millions of people could lose essential protections that allow them to live with dignity and independence.

3. Threats to Medicare & Medicaid

Medicare and Medicaid are lifelines for people with disabilities. Currently, 4.8 million individuals rely on both programs, and 12.8 million are dually eligible for coverage. Medicaid, in particular, provides critical services such as preventive care, prescription medication, medical equipment, and long-term support. Without these programs, many disabled individuals will be left without access to essential healthcare.

The Dismantling of Disability Oversight

Another alarming development is the growing influence of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has been slashing funding and cutting oversight agencies at an alarming rate. DOGE’s indiscriminate gutting of key protections threatens:

• The Department of Justice (DOJ) Oversees the enforcement of the ADA by state and local governments, public accommodations, and other provisions.

• The Department of Education (DOE) Administers IDEA, Section 504, and vocational rehabilitation programs.

• The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): Ensures workplace protections under the ADA.

• The Federal Communications Commission (FCC): Regulates disability access to telecommunications under the ADA.

• The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS): Enforces Section 504 and HIPAA protections.

• The Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD): Protects housing access for disabled individuals.

• The Department of Labor (DOL) Oversees employment protections for disabled workers.

With DOGE slashing these critical programs and agencies, millions of disabled Americans are being left unprotected, vulnerable to discrimination, and stripped of their fundamental rights.

A Call to Action

As a disability rights advocate and educator, ALLLI Solutions is both outraged and deeply fearful for the millions of individuals who will suffer if these attacks continue unchecked.

What You Can Do:

• Contact your representatives and demand they protect disability rights.

• Support disability advocacy organizations fighting these legal battles.

• Spread awareness—many people don’t realize these protections are under attack.

• Vote for leaders who will safeguard disability rights and oppose harmful policies.

This is not just a policy debate—it’s a fight for dignity, inclusion, and the fundamental rights of millions of disabled Americans. We cannot stand by while these protections are dismantled. The time to act is now.

To learn more, please visit :

https://substack.com/@alllisolutions

https://www.youtube.com/@ALLLIsolutions-s6k