Protect the Department of education!

Protect Special Education—For All Our Children! Pennsylvania’s children with special needs deserve our support! My 6-year-old son has autism. We’re a middle-class family in Upper Merion, a solid school district, and he’s thriving in first grade. He’s in a general education classroom with the support of a 1:1 aide. He needs help with focus, behavior regulation during non-preferred tasks, and managing overwhelm—without support, he may elope. But here’s what people don’t always realize: He isn’t just receiving help—he’s enriching the entire classroom. He excels in math, his enthusiasm is infectious, and his storytelling radiates joy. His presence fosters empathy and understanding among his peers. His aide ensures he stays on task, preventing challenges from escalating, and in turn, he learns positive behaviors while his classmates learn inclusion, kindness, and the beauty of neurological diversity. Everyone wins. Dismantling the Department of Education, cutting special education funding, or jeopardizing IEPs doesn’t just harm children with disabilities—it weakens our schools and hurts all students. Beyond school, Medicaid and specialized therapies have given my son the tools to navigate his world with confidence. These resources change lives. Protect Pennsylvania’s children. Protect the Department of Education. Our kids—and our future—depend on it.