Acting Assistant Secretary Michael Yudin, who oversees the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, will address a general session of the National Disability Rights Network’s annual conference Tuesday in Baltimore. Yudin will discuss the Education Department’s efforts to promote education equity for all students, including those with disabilities.
Also on hand will be Janet LaBreck, commissioner of the Department’s Rehabilitation Services Administration. She will join in a roundtable discussion on the importance of the vocational rehabilitation system and how people with significant disabilities can make meaningful contributions to the workforce.
The National Disability Rights Network is the nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and Client Assistance Programs (CAP). Collectively, the P&A/CAP network is the largest provider of legally based advocacy services to people with disabilities in the United States.
A priority in the U.S. Education Department’s work this year has been raising public awareness about the need to close the opportunity gap and further equity in America’s schools – including for students with disabilities. For example, the Education Department earlier today released guidance to make it easier for caseworkers, child welfare agencies and tribal organizations responsible for the placement and care of children and youth in foster care, including those with disabilities, to have direct access to their education records.