208. Changes To Special Education And How We Continue To Advocate with Stephanie Hall Meredith

In this powerful episode we sit down with longtime disability advocate Stephanie Hall Meredith for an honest conversation about the changes happening around special education, disability rights and the systems that protect inclusion and equal education. Stephanie brings decades of advocacy knowledge to a conversation that can feel overwhelming, but ultimately leaves us with something we need right now: a reason to stay informed, stay engaged and keep going.

National Down Syndrome Congress - The Policy Pulse News Update: https://ndsccenter.org/policy/action-center/the-policy-pulse.html

State Councils on Developmental Disabilities: https://acl.gov/programs/aging-and-disability-networks/state-councils-developmental-disabilities

The ARC: https://thearc.org/policy-advocacy/

NDSS: https://ndss.org/policy

Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0807002801?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback

Episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi4R9dL4avnOh5T8VEejTmDL15gKp2i_u

Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wpcomstaging.com/2026/08/20/208-changes-to-special-education-and-how-we-continue-to-advocate/2/

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SUMMARY:

The conversation begins with the changes and uncertainty surrounding the Office of Special Education Programs and proposals to move special education oversight from the Department of Education to Health and Human Services. Stephanie explains why advocates are concerned about losing specialized expertise, reducing federal oversight, and shifting more responsibility onto individual states and families. The discussion also looks at the potential consequences of block grants and what could happen when families lose a clear federal pathway for addressing problems with special education services.Stephen and Lori bring the conversation directly into their own lives when they talk about Liam's return to school. After seeing what they felt was a lackadaisical attitude toward his IEP, Lori made it clear that this year would be different. Collaboration with a school team remains important, but so does making su