Autism Advocates Warn of Losing Civil Rights Safeguards as Education Department Shrinks

Disability rights groups and researchers caution that the administration's dismantling of the Education Department and weakening of civil rights oversight could worsen disparities in autism diagnosis and school support. The department's civil rights office often steps in when families cannot resolve discrimination complaints locally. Parents fear that without this federal backstop, they will have no recourse for protecting their children's rights.