Carey Advocacy

08/11/2026

Promoting Inclusion in Education - SCDD Webinar -

The new school year is here! Creating an info sheet about your child and sharing with their new classroom teachers is a great way to get the year started off on a positive note!

07/16/2026

I agree completely. This is ableism. Be prepared to respond!

Here is the full article: https://cspeda.optin.com/newsletter/awlist4281419/MzAxODAyNjY=/one-belief-repeated-in-most-iep-meetings.htm?fbclid=IwdGRjcATGRrNwZG9mAWZkaWQWUKqXikaZz6KrzcYJvQ0WoMhu8diN1GV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR45wJUSUGqPiw_I-FUGggMBsHpcHSMjxXT6bWCv3HMd1bKynaVOYm9CsIdBvg_aem_kBijvZTU5zOVzve68pT9cw

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1648666343935126&id=100063753289935&mibextid=wwXIfr

She said it calmly. Matter-of-fact. Like it was the most reasonable thing in the world.

"When he looks like and acts like a first grader, he can be in a first-grade class."

I had to take a second to process what I just heard.

If you've ever sat in a room where someone said something that stopped you cold, you know that feeling.

And you need to know what to do when it happens.

Link to read the rest of the story is in the comments.

Alt Text: Graphic with bold text on the left reading, “Ableism dressed up as a standard: Special Educator: ‘When he looks like and acts like a first grader, he can be in a first grade class.’” On the right, a female teacher holds a classroom door partly closed while a young boy with a backpack stands outside looking in. Through the door window, other children are seated inside the first-grade classroom. The image suggests exclusion from the classroom based on adult expectations of how a child should look or behave.

06/23/2026

I will be there!

It's more than a logo.

It's a symbol of thousands of voices coming together.

Parents. Students. Advocates. Attorneys. Educators. Professionals.
A community united by one mission: creating better outcomes for students with disabilities.

The 29th Annual COPAA Conference is more than an event; it's where connections are made, knowledge is shared, and advocacy turns into action.

🏨Town and Country Resort
📍 San Diego, California
📅 March 3–7, 2027

The countdown has begun.

Follow our social media pages for conference updates, speaker announcements, registration information, and more.



ALT - White background with the 29th Annual COPAA Conference logo

05/12/2026

Do your kids do iReady? What do you think of it? Does it help your child learn?

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/education/iready-school-software-faces-parent-teacher-student-fury-rcna342850?fbclid=IwdGRjcARwmGtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xNzM4NDc2NDI2NzAzNzAAAR6Bx1X6IgeShXfImj2hESU8Tznm7AswJRkEV2FhagsLLdkCgJ62mAKj2T54NQ_aem_1aPKSoZxjb6NJJChDXt8tg

A growing number of families and educators say they’re fed up with i-Ready’s personalized math and reading lessons, which feature repetitive cartoons and slow voice-overs.

04/05/2026

This could have serious consequences for students with disabilities.

All children, regardless of immigration status, have the right to a free K-12 public education. But without birthright citizenship, access to schools and colleges could get complicated.

03/17/2026

This does not surprise me. Do you think this will work to get and retain teachers and providers?

With a growing number of students qualifying for special education, teachers are struggling to meet the needs of these students while also dealing with unsustainable caseloads.

03/03/2026

National Call-in Day - March 5th, 2026

Tell Congress: Protect Children with Disabilities, Oppose Moving IDEA out of ED

COPAA is joining advocacy groups across the country on March 5 for a National Call-In Day to oppose moving oversight and administration of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) from the U.S.

Department of Education (ED) to a different federal agency. While there is no announced date for this move, officials have told COPAA they intend to make this change.

You can help by calling your U.S. Senators and U.S. Representative and urge them to tell ED to protect children with disabilities and DO NOT MOVE special education programs such as IDEA, vocational rehabilitation, and OCR out of the Education Department. (We appreciate those who have already emailed Congress, but we urge you to join the CALL-IN to have the most impact on this day!).

Use the links above or call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Ask to be connected to your Senator(s) and Representative. Once connected, use the suggested script to leave a message with anyone who answers the phone:

Hi, my name is _________ and I live in). I am a (parent of a child with a disability / advocate/concerned community member) calling to express my opposition to the U.S. Department of Education moving special education, vocational rehabilitation, and civil rights functions out of the Education Department. Special education programs are education programs first and should be administered by an agency that focuses on education. Other Departments like Health and Human Services and Labor don’t have experience running education programs that focus on educating and serving students with disabilities. Moving special education programs, vocational rehabilitation and civil rights investigations out of ED will only lead to less educational opportunity for students with disabilities.

I would like the Member of Congress to call the Secretary of Education and ask that special education programs, including vocational rehabilitation and civil rights investigations be kept at the Education Department. [The staffer that answers the phone will reply back to you.]

In closing, say: Please let the Member know how important this issue is to me and to their other constituents who focus on and support children with disabilities and their families. Thank you for your time.

COPAA thanks you in advance. Please share this news and script with others!

02/08/2026

I love COPAA. So happy to be a member.

01/16/2026

This is a great way to learn what is in the proposed state budget that may affect our kids. Chris explains things so well!