My IDEA Matters

In the spring and summer of 2020, the Trump Administration and Congress considered waiving some of the responsibilities of school districts and states to educate students with disabilities due to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In order to maintain the critical civil rights protections afforded to students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), NCLD launched the #MyIDEAMatters campaign. Our community worked to alert everyone that our students’ rights were at stake and we urged them to show policymakers why IDEA matters to all of us.

Due to the incredible efforts across the country by disability rights advocates, then U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos recommended not waiving any of these important protections in April of 2020. Congress ultimately followed the Secretary’s recommendations as well and required states and school districts to continue to uphold the protections under IDEA.

Below are some of the videos from incredible advocates who stopped this effort from happening and protected the rights of students with disabilities and their families.