Behind Closed Doors: The Quiet Dismantling of Disability Rights

🎙️ Special Ed Rising: Purge 47 Edition

While families are focused on graduations, IEP meetings, and summer prep, a dangerous regulatory rollback is quietly unfolding. The Department of Energy (DOE), under the Trump administration, has issued a direct final rule—a shortcut usually reserved for noncontroversial housekeeping—to eliminate accessibility standards for buildings that receive federal funds. This move guts long-standing disability rights protections without public debate or transparency.

In this episode, host Mark Ingrassia breaks down the real-world implications of this rule change—from the elimination of the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS) to the erosion of communication access, employment protections, and enforcement tools. The stakes are clear: less access, fewer rights, and more exclusion. This is not red tape—this is civil rights. And they’re trying to gut them quietly.

💥 Highlights:

• What a “direct final rule” is and why it’s being used deceptively
• The specific disability protections being eliminated—UFAS, transition plans, communication access, employment protections, and public notices
• Real-world consequences for students, veterans, workers, and families
• What this means for Section 504 protections across other federal agencies
• Actions you can still take to push back—even after the public comment deadline has passed

📛 What’s Being Rescinded:

1. UFAS (10 C.F.R. § 1040.73) – No clear accessibility standard = patchwork compliance and inaccessibility
2. Transition Plans (10 C.F.R. § 1040.72) – No roadmap for making older buildings usable
3. Communication Access (10 C.F.R. § 1040.5 & § 1040.6) – LEP and disabled users lose guaranteed access to info
4. Employment Protections (§§ 1040.1, 1040.12, 1040.14) – Easier to discriminate without accountability
5. Posting of Rights (10 C.F.R. § 1040.102) – No visible notice = no awareness = no complaints

🚨 What’s at Stake:

• Physical Access: Fewer ramps, narrower doors, inaccessible restrooms, labs, or entrances
• Communication Gaps: Safety alerts and essential info may be unreadable or unavailable
• Employment Discrimination: Bias in hiring, retention, and promotion could go unchecked
• Legal Ambiguity: With no standards to follow, lawsuits may replace prevention

🛠️ What You Can Still Do (Post-June 16):

✅ 1. Contact Your Members of Congress

📢 Sample script: “I oppose the DOE’s rescission of accessibility standards. This is an attack on civil rights and public input. Please investigate and stop this rule.”

✅ 2. Partner With Advocates

Collaborate with:

• National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)
• Access Living
• Energy Justice Network
• Green New Deal Network

✅ 3. Keep It Public

Use and follow these hashtags:

#AccessNotOptional | #DisabilityRightsNow | #StopTheRollback | #HoldDOEAccountable

✅ 4. Write to the Media

Letters to the editor and op-eds help keep pressure on lawmakers and DOE

✅ 5. FOIA Requests

Request internal DOE communications—transparency is our ally

✅ 6. Track Legal Action

Stay connected to groups pursuing lawsuits or administrative complaints

✅ 7. Petition and Organize

Start petitions, host virtual town halls, or join webinars on disability advocacy

🗂️ Docket Numbers to Track:

• DOE-HQ-2025-0015 (UFAS elimination)
• DOE-HQ-2025-0024 (Other nondiscrimination rollbacks)

Visit https://www.regulations.gov and search these docket numbers to view filings.

📝 Bonus: Sample Comment Letter Available

I’ve included a downloadable sample public comment letter in the show notes, written in plain language. Feel free to adapt.

Go to: https://specialedrising.com/resources/

🧷 Mentioned Article:

Effort To Roll Back Federal Disability Rights Protections Alarms Advocates – by Michelle Diament, Disability Scoop

💬 Mark’s Final Word:

“This is not just about building codes—it’s about who belongs. About whether we see civil rights as essential or optional. It’s our duty to rise. Because silence is exactly what they’re banking on.”

🔗 Follow and Connect:

• Website: https://specialedrising.com/
• Instagram/TikTok: @SpecialEdRising
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-ingrassia-m-s-04680a77/