Enforce Equitable Education for Neurodivergent Students
#SilencedPleaMovement | Every Child Deserves to Learn
To: The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)
We Demand Federal Action Now
The Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of Ava Tharpe confirms what millions of families already know: neurodivergent students have been systematically denied access to their education, despite federal protections under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
For decades, students like Kelly VanZant have been pushed aside, ignored, and passed through grades without receiving the accommodations they are legally entitled to. Even when Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) are mandated, schools often fail to implement them correctly, forcing parents into exhausting legal battles just to secure basic learning opportunities for their children.
This failure leads to lifelong consequences—higher dropout rates, lost career opportunities, and emotional trauma. Schools must be held accountable for denying neurodivergent students the right to an equitable education.
Federal Action Needed to Protect Neurodivergent Students
We call on the U.S. Department of Education to strengthen IDEA enforcement, improve school accountability, and ensure neurodivergent students receive the education they deserve.
Legal Foundations & Required Actions
1️⃣ Mandatory Early Identification Programs – Schools must comply with IDEA's Child Find mandate (§1412(a)(3)) by implementing federally required screening tools before first grade to detect learning disabilities early. Self ID Kits offers an accessible and affordable model for schools and families to fulfill this obligation.
2️⃣ Stronger Enforcement of IEP Compliance & Transparency – The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) emphasizes academic accountability, yet students with disabilities remain underserved.
We demand:
- Public reporting of IEP compliance rates within state education dashboards.
- Federal oversight of districts failing to implement legally required accommodations.
3️⃣ Accessible Parent Training Programs – IDEA (§1415) requires states to provide procedural safeguards for parents, but too many families struggle to understand their rights.
We urge the U.S. Department of Education to establish:
- Federal grants for parent-led education initiatives to support IEP monitoring.
- Accessible online training programs to empower parents with the knowledge to advocate effectively.
4️⃣ Federal Oversight for Chronic Noncompliance – Schools repeatedly failing to meet special education mandates should face federal intervention.
We need the U.S. Department of Education to establish:
- Immediate corrective action for districts violating IDEA regulations (§300.600).
- Financial consequences for persistent noncompliance, as outlined in ESSA (§1111(d)) for low-performing schools.