The annual federal budget debate rarely feels urgent to families managing the day-to-day realities of raising a child with a disability. But the 2026 budget proposals, and the congressional fight that has followed, touch the specific law that funds your child's IEP, the staff who enforce it, and the agency that backs you up when schools don't comply. Here's what's actually being proposed, what's been rejected, and what it means for your family. The Proposal. The White House proposed a $12.35 billion reduction in Department of Education spending for fiscal year 2026. For special education specifically, the plan would consolidate several targeted programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) into a single block grant. The separate allocations that currently fund early intervention for infants and toddlers, family support resources, assistive technology, and professional development would all flow through one funding stream instead. The administration has framed this as an increase: the core IDEA Grants to States program would receive $14.9 billion under the proposal, roughly $677 million more than in 2025 and the highest level ever appropriated. Officials have described it as protection, not a cut. Critics read it differently. The problem isn't the total. It's that consolidation removes the guarantee that each program gets funded at all. With 50 states and widely varying levels of administrative capacity, how that money gets divided would vary considerably. Wealthier, better-staffed state agencies would likely direct it more effectively than under-resourced ones. That gap already exists; the consolidation model would widen...

The proposed 2026 federal education budget would restructure IDEA funding. Here's what's actually at stake for special needs families.

What the 2026 Federal Education Budget Fight Means for Your Child's IEP

The first time a parent sits across the table from a team of educators, therapists, and administrators at an IEP meeting, it can feel disorienting. Everyone else in the room seems fluent in the terminology, the process, and the expectations. You may feel like the least-informed person there, even though you know your child better than anyone. That's worth holding onto. Your knowledge of your child is not secondary to what professionals know. It's the most important data point in the room. The challenge is learning how to bring it into the process effectively. Before the Meeting. Start by writing down what your child has accomplished since the last IEP. Even small wins count. Then write down what you're concerned about: areas where progress has stalled, challenges your child is still facing, or goals you'd like to see added. Go through the current IEP before you walk in. Read the goals. If a goal is vague or unmeasurable, ask how the school is tracking it. If you plan to suggest a new goal, discuss it with a therapist, a trusted parent advocate, or a family resource center before the meeting, not during. If your child sees therapists or providers outside of school, ask them for a brief written summary of what they're observing. School staff often don't have visibility into what happens at home or in clinical settings, and that context can shift conversations. Bring Someone With You. You are entitled to bring anyone you want to an IEP meeting....

IEP meetings don't have to feel overwhelming. Here's how to prepare, what to bring, and what rights you have going in.

What Every Special Needs Parent Should Know Before Walking Into an IEP Meeting

Easter is a time of joy, renewal, and family. It's a season that brings together people of all ages to celebrate, share, and enjoy the warmth of loved ones. However, for families with a visually impaired child, creating an Easter celebration that's inclusive and enjoyable for everyone can pose unique challenges. The key is finding activities that don't single out the visually impaired child but instead bring all the kids together in fun, shared experiences. Here's a guide to making your Easter inclusive, fun, and memorable for every bunny in the family, with down-to-earth advice that meets you where you are. 1. Egg Hunts with a Twist  Traditional egg hunts can be challenging for visually impaired children, but with a little creativity, you can make this Easter staple exciting for everyone.   Sound-Filled Eggs: Fill plastic eggs with items that make noise when shaken, such as small bells, beads, or coins. This auditory cue allows visually impaired children to participate in the hunt using their hearing.  Scented Eggs: Scented eggs can provide a fun and unique way for kids to find their treasures. Use cotton balls soaked in different essential oils or extracts (like vanilla, peppermint, or lemon) placed inside the eggs. Assign each scent to a specific prize or point value.  Tactile Maps: For older kids, create a tactile map of the egg hunt area with raised outlines of landmarks and egg locations. This can be a fun way for visually impaired children to plan their strategy and engage...

Create an inclusive Easter for visually impaired children with sensory-filled eggs, textured crafts, and Braille books.

Inclusive Easter Celebrations: Joyful Ideas for Families with a Visually Impaired Child

My husband and I and our four kids went to the pool on Saturday. I love going to the pool with the kids. They use Lance and me as jungle gyms. It helps me to confront my hatred of being touched. You know, because I’m ALL about confronting things I hate. But walking around anywhere for us is like walking around with two elephants in tow. Everyone sees them, but no one really wants to talk about them.  Casey is the least amount autistic at the pool. Sure, he’s still got all of his charms and fixations, but all of the tough parts about autism seem to drown in the pool while we’re there. He makes friends. Sort of. It’s awkward as hell, but he’s happy there. And he’s trying. The elephant that follows him around is much smaller, barely noticeable, when he’s at the pool.  Going anywhere with Abby is different. This time in the kiddie pool I found myself angry at the gigantic elephant that I’m forced to confront everywhere I go. It’s not that I mind talking about it. Not at all. But this time at the pool, for the first time, really, I just wished I didn’t have to. I didn’t have to smile and say, “yes, she has Down syndrome.” Or to the two year old who could carry on a full conversation: “My baby is your age! Why doesn’t she walk or talk? Because she has Down syndrome, she will soon…” I...

A mother shares her wish for normalcy for her children with autism and Down syndrome at the pool.

The Elephant In The Pool

 When it comes to RAD, 8 seems to be our “magic number.” My daughter was 8 years old when she was diagnosed. It took 8 years before I could honestly say she seems to be healing. We’ve gone through 8 therapists. But most taxing of all, we’ve survived 8 CPS investigations.   Yes, 8…EIGHT!! It’s stressful enough to have CPS at your door even once, but by the eighth time you get pretty used to it. It’s not that we’re bad parents either — *every* *single* *report* was deemed to be untrue. In fact, with CPS the default stance seems to be “guilty until proven innocent,” but by the end of our eighth investigation our record was flagged with “innocent until proven guilty.”    So how did we get ourselves into such a mess?   Welcome to Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)!! Take RAD, mix in type-1 diabetes (insulin dependent), add a bunch of well-meaning adults, and you have a recipe for CPS soup. Children with RAD are masters at triangulating the adults in their lives. They thrive on controlling the situation (no matter what it is), and learn from an early age how to manipulate to get what they believe they need. If that means turning the rest of the world against the very people that love them, that’s ok — it’s all about getting their needs met their way. You can’t fault them for it either — it’s how their brain is wired from...

Family with a RAD daughter faced 8 CPS probes, all false. Advice: keep records for CPS; understand RAD-related manipulation.

The Magic Number 8

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Special Needs
Articles

What the 2026 Federal Education Budget Fight Means for Your Child's IEP

What Every Special Needs Parent Should Know Before Walking Into an IEP Meeting

Inclusive Easter Celebrations: Joyful Ideas for Families with a Visually Impaired Child

The Elephant In The Pool

The Magic Number 8

Find Providers Near You

Special Needs Articles

What the 2026 Federal Education Budget Fight Means for Your Child's IEP

What Every Special Needs Parent Should Know Before Walking Into an IEP Meeting

Inclusive Easter Celebrations: Joyful Ideas for Families with a Visually Impaired Child

The Elephant In The Pool

The Magic Number 8

Find Providers Near You

Special Needs
Articles