AJE is very thankful that the District of Columbia Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights both wants to hear from families directly about their experiences, but also that they have also have arranged an after-hours briefing to make it easier for parents of students with disabilities to share their stories with them!

More details are below about this virtual event on May 7th at 7pm.  Please sign up by Friday, May 3, 2024, to ensure you are added to the list of individuals interested in speaking: https://wkf.ms/3U2t4YW.

District of Columbia Advisory Committee Public Briefing on Accessing Services for Students with Disabilities in D.C. Public Schools – Panel IV

The District of Columbia Advisory Committee (Committee) to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Commission) is examining the accessibility and provision of services for students with disabilities in D.C. public schools. The Committee is exploring whether current policies, practices, and procedures restrict access to these services based on race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin, or in the administration of justice. After receiving testimony, the Committee will present its findings and recommendations on this topic to the Commission. The Committee has scheduled its fourth briefing for the following date and time:

Briefing IV (Virtual): After-Hours Public Forum for Impacted Individuals

When: Tuesday, May 7, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET; Location: Virtual Only

Note: If you are an impacted individual, which includes family members of students with disabilities, and you wish to offer a comment at this forum, please complete the following form by Friday, May 3, 2024, to ensure you are added to the list of individuals interested in speaking: https://wkf.ms/3U2t4YW. Individuals who sign up in advance will be invited to speak first. This forum will conclude before 8 pm ET if all those who have indicated interest have already spoken, so please plan to join at 6 pm ET to indicate your interest in speaking. Members of the public may also offer public comment during the May 2nd (more information here) or May 10th (more information here) briefings, but this forum has been set up to allow for those who cannot join during business hours to share their experiences with the Committee.

All meeting registration information is available here.

At each of these briefings, Committee Chair Wayne Heard will invite members of the public to make brief oral statements on the topic. Please note that the duration of each briefing may conclude before the allotted two-hour time slot if there are few members of the public wishing to offer comments.

Closed captioning is available by selecting “CC” in the Zoom meeting platform. Individuals requiring additional accommodations should contact Sarah Villanueva at svillanueva@usccr.gov at least 10 business days prior to this briefing. Members of the public are encouraged to submit written statements by June 9, 2024 for inclusion in the briefing record. Kindly email any written statements to svillaneuva@usccr.gov, using the subject line: DC Special Education.