Celebrating Disabilities

Sophie Sukendro

Every October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month shines a spotlight on the importance of inclusion, access and equity for people with disabilities. Although the month has ended, many continue to advocate for inclusion long after October. Yet, across several institutions, disability inclusion still faces growing challenges—not only in terms of funding and policy, but also in public attitudes shaped by stigma reinforced at the highest levels of leadership.

In September, President Donald Trump linked acetaminophen use during pregnancy to autism, but his claim was widely condemned by medical experts as unfounded and stigmatizing. This echoed a broader trend within the current administration framing disabilities as damage. Months earlier, U.S. Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. described autism as something that “destroys families” and “needs to be put an end to,” reinforcing outdated narratives of disability as tragedies. Similar rhetoric surfaced when Trump’s nephew, Fred Trump III revealed that the president once said disabled Americans “should just die.”

This attitude has been reflected in national policy as well. The recent government shutdown resulted in mass layoffs within the Department of Education, gutting the offices responsible for administering special education programs. Nearly everyone in the Office of Special Education Programs and the Rehabilitative Services Administration—which oversees enforcement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)—was terminated. Without staff to manage the roughly $15 billion in IDEA funding, states may soon lose federal oversight of services ensuring a free and supportive education for children with disabilities.

“Do people realize that this is happening to this population of vulnerable students?” one department leader told ABC News. “If there’s no staff, who the heck is going to administer this program?” Union officials have raised similar alarms, saying the layoffs “effectively dismantle” the infrastructure that administers IDEA. About a fifth of the agency’s workforce was cut and nearly 90 percent of the department furloughed. The effects devastate not only employees who lost their jobs, but also the students who rely on them. Over half of public schools already report difficulty hiring special-education staff, and these cuts could further limit classroom accessibility—risking regressing to the exclusion that advocates have fought decades to undo.

As federal protections falter, local communities are stepping up. The Down Syndrome Association of Orange County (DSAOC) continues to push back against stigma and stereotypes. “During Down Syndrome Awareness Month, we can highlight the value and beautiful lives of individuals with Down syndrome and how they are loved by their family and community,” said DSAOC Executive Director Kellie Perez. “Diverse neighborhoods are beautiful and no one should feel they don’t belong. Many people with Down syndrome go to college, hold jobs, build relationships and live independently.” The problem is not ability—it’s access and false assumptions.

Educators in Orange County further echo that call. Cristen Skoglund, an OCSA elective teacher and adaptive arts instructor at No Limits Creative Arts, said working with students of all abilities reshaped her approach to teaching. “Working with students with special needs and all abilities has made me a better teacher,” she shared. “It has challenged me to evolve my approach to the classroom and develop a more inclusive curriculum. Awareness and education reduce preconceived notions and help make connections that move us forward in creating a more inclusive community,” added Skoglund. Her message in response to the divisive rhetoric surrounding disability today is simple: “lead with kindness.”

Perez shared that same sentiment, adding that the community can help by “listening, learning, asking questions and getting involved.” She noted that when people open their hearts and minds to individuals with disabilities, “you will be amazed at the true friendships and kindness you can experience. Each person may have their own way of communicating, but a smile is universal and so is a helping hand when needed.”

As National Disability Employment Awareness Month ends, it is important to keep disability inclusion an ongoing practice, not a temporary theme. Inclusion does not mean teaching those with disabilities how to “fit” into a society built without them in mind. It means teaching those without disabilities to build systems where acceptance is the norm, not the exception.