As a public educator, school leader, and human being, it’s so hard for me to come to terms with how lost we are right now. Some days I believe we can overcome it and find our way out because I see the brave people tirelessly showing up and standing up. Other days, when I read pieces like this, the seeds of arbitrary cruelty burrow deep into my soul and take root like common weeds that come back over and over no matter how many times they get pulled.
It’s the tiny ones that strike me as the ones that will be the hardest to unravel. But that makes me think of something Sharon posted yesterday, we all just need to grab an edge and hold on.
So true. Sometimes I feel like we’re all holding on to the same small ledge together, and it’s getting very crowded. Hopefully it can hold all of us together.
What can we do to help? As an educator and mom of a child with a disability, I cried my way through this article. I’ve called and emailed our congress for years now, but what more as none of that seems to work! How can we show that children - all children matter and deserve to learn in a way that meets their individual, complex needs.
If a Presidential administration can cancel any contract or grant that was done by a previous administration, then no one can rely on any contract or grant with the federal government that lasts longer than 4 years. Which is the point Russ Vought and the rest of the Trump admin are making to the people of the US, and to the world. Don't rely on the US govt to do anything for you that extends past the current admin. Contracts are worthless. We are not trustworthy. We do not honor our commitments. It's a terrible message that will have repercussions for decades.
How do they sleep at night? Can someone get this story to Melinda Gates or MacKenzie Scott, women who do good with their wealth? History will not look kindly on Linda and those who assisted her in this crusade.
These types of programs should be run on taxpayers money, something we all agree is worth the investment. We should not have to rely on the benevolence of billionaires to fund programs that benefit our country, our neighbors and disabled kids.
This appears like laziness on the part of the current administration. Searching for key words instead of reading for the new favorite buzzword, context.
Cruel is the word that comes to mind while reading this. As someone with disabilities, I understand the lasting impact this has. I work with college students who benefit from these programs and I have seen the disappointment online from others with disabilities too. This doesn’t feel like a fight the current admin will even give a minute to unfortunately until others start calling their reps and being annoying. Especially if their rep votes red. Otherwise these programs will close and won’t make it to the next administration.
This resonates with me. My niece is part of the deafblind community. We are having some deep family pain because her parents (my sister) refuse to be part of this political discussion. She prefers to cling to scripture and remain mute on anything that can be considered remotely divisive. I, on the other hand, am compelled to be involved in advocacy. This is a particularly painful time and I’m not sure how to move forward with my relationship with my sister. I can’t understand how a mother can’t speak up for her daughter and the larger community she belongs to.
It's interesting that your sister, who believes in scripture and, evidently, Jesus, thinks that being mute is the way to go. The question, What would Jesus do?, comes to mind.
RIGHT! That's what I was thinking too. They're especially critical in education! But as we know, with this administration, we have to play stupid word games to not have our most vulnerable cruelly left out in the cold. It's sickening.
They seem to revel in the cruelty, as I'm now saying a lot: We must remember that DJT himself, standing at a podium, was comfortable mocking a disabled reporter.
The intentional cruelty & mindless disregard for who the programs were for is staggering to say the least. Triggered only by buzzwords that have multiple meanings, these searches were being done by technology in its most dystopian form. The administration’s aim is destruction not governance. It is the human form of clear cutting forests, leaving devastation in its wake. Continuing to amplify the human beings directly impacted by these cuts is the most powerful way to reinstate them or a rallying cry to develop community support to continue them. Thank you for telling these stories. We are the face of why government programs exist.
I suggest we all join Project Mailstorm (projectmailstorm.carrd.co) and send a letter to the Department of Education’s Secretary, Linda E. McMahon, politely, but emphatically, requesting funding be reinstated.
How can we be back in the 60's so quickly and easily? All the years of effort for people with disabilities, for minorities, for any marginalized group have been washed away with one swearing in. It is hard to comprehend a mind that thinks this is ok.
The government doesn't misunderstand the goals of these life-saving programs. It simply wants them gone. Remember when our president mocked a disabled reporter? Why that alone didn't cause a huge outcry is beyond my understanding.
The unrelenting horribleness of this administration is overwhelming. I struggle with my own anger for them. I appreciate the action suggested by Tom Trebes as that helps my anger at least have some action.
As a public educator, school leader, and human being, it’s so hard for me to come to terms with how lost we are right now. Some days I believe we can overcome it and find our way out because I see the brave people tirelessly showing up and standing up. Other days, when I read pieces like this, the seeds of arbitrary cruelty burrow deep into my soul and take root like common weeds that come back over and over no matter how many times they get pulled.
It’s the tiny ones that strike me as the ones that will be the hardest to unravel. But that makes me think of something Sharon posted yesterday, we all just need to grab an edge and hold on.
So true. Sometimes I feel like we’re all holding on to the same small ledge together, and it’s getting very crowded. Hopefully it can hold all of us together.
What can we do to help? As an educator and mom of a child with a disability, I cried my way through this article. I’ve called and emailed our congress for years now, but what more as none of that seems to work! How can we show that children - all children matter and deserve to learn in a way that meets their individual, complex needs.
If a Presidential administration can cancel any contract or grant that was done by a previous administration, then no one can rely on any contract or grant with the federal government that lasts longer than 4 years. Which is the point Russ Vought and the rest of the Trump admin are making to the people of the US, and to the world. Don't rely on the US govt to do anything for you that extends past the current admin. Contracts are worthless. We are not trustworthy. We do not honor our commitments. It's a terrible message that will have repercussions for decades.
How do they sleep at night? Can someone get this story to Melinda Gates or MacKenzie Scott, women who do good with their wealth? History will not look kindly on Linda and those who assisted her in this crusade.
I agree with you, how can people be this cruel?
These types of programs should be run on taxpayers money, something we all agree is worth the investment. We should not have to rely on the benevolence of billionaires to fund programs that benefit our country, our neighbors and disabled kids.
I believe they sleep just fine. Remember that DJT mocked a disabled reporter and no one said a word. They were fine with it.
This appears like laziness on the part of the current administration. Searching for key words instead of reading for the new favorite buzzword, context.
Cruel is the word that comes to mind while reading this. As someone with disabilities, I understand the lasting impact this has. I work with college students who benefit from these programs and I have seen the disappointment online from others with disabilities too. This doesn’t feel like a fight the current admin will even give a minute to unfortunately until others start calling their reps and being annoying. Especially if their rep votes red. Otherwise these programs will close and won’t make it to the next administration.
This resonates with me. My niece is part of the deafblind community. We are having some deep family pain because her parents (my sister) refuse to be part of this political discussion. She prefers to cling to scripture and remain mute on anything that can be considered remotely divisive. I, on the other hand, am compelled to be involved in advocacy. This is a particularly painful time and I’m not sure how to move forward with my relationship with my sister. I can’t understand how a mother can’t speak up for her daughter and the larger community she belongs to.
It's interesting that your sister, who believes in scripture and, evidently, Jesus, thinks that being mute is the way to go. The question, What would Jesus do?, comes to mind.
And……..diversity equality and inclusion are ideals to strive for—-not to separate from. This is tragic and cruel
RIGHT! That's what I was thinking too. They're especially critical in education! But as we know, with this administration, we have to play stupid word games to not have our most vulnerable cruelly left out in the cold. It's sickening.
Yes I don’t want to see targeted groups throwing one another under the bus!
They seem to revel in the cruelty, as I'm now saying a lot: We must remember that DJT himself, standing at a podium, was comfortable mocking a disabled reporter.
This just makes me want to cry. It seems that if something has to do with helping others or doing what is good and right, it is no longer allowed.
The intentional cruelty & mindless disregard for who the programs were for is staggering to say the least. Triggered only by buzzwords that have multiple meanings, these searches were being done by technology in its most dystopian form. The administration’s aim is destruction not governance. It is the human form of clear cutting forests, leaving devastation in its wake. Continuing to amplify the human beings directly impacted by these cuts is the most powerful way to reinstate them or a rallying cry to develop community support to continue them. Thank you for telling these stories. We are the face of why government programs exist.
I suggest we all join Project Mailstorm (projectmailstorm.carrd.co) and send a letter to the Department of Education’s Secretary, Linda E. McMahon, politely, but emphatically, requesting funding be reinstated.
Send the letter to:
Linda E. McMahon
US Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue,SW
Washington, D.C. 20202
Mine has been written and mailed.
Thank you- this is one thing I can do.
Tim, you perfectly expressed how I felt, as a former educator, in reading this. Thank you, Leondra, for this heartbreaking but important article.
How can we be back in the 60's so quickly and easily? All the years of effort for people with disabilities, for minorities, for any marginalized group have been washed away with one swearing in. It is hard to comprehend a mind that thinks this is ok.
The government doesn't misunderstand the goals of these life-saving programs. It simply wants them gone. Remember when our president mocked a disabled reporter? Why that alone didn't cause a huge outcry is beyond my understanding.
The unrelenting horribleness of this administration is overwhelming. I struggle with my own anger for them. I appreciate the action suggested by Tom Trebes as that helps my anger at least have some action.