Happy New Year!  We are back to blogging here on Super Mighty Max dot com.
As we gear up for the Inauguration tomorrow of Donald J. Trump as the 45th President of the United States of America, his cabinet members are getting grilled by Democratic Senators during their confirmation hearings.  Over the last few days we have watched the Secretary of Education nominee Betsy Devos, a multi billionaire Republican philanthropist, completely avoid questions on around guns in public schools, higher education, and the federal student loan programs.  She even made a comment that guns are needed in schools to keep the grizzlies away.  What grizzly bears do you know own guns?  Anyway, I digress.

What infuriated me as a Special Needs mom to Super Mighty Max was her response to questions around Special Education and lack of knowledge of existing acts like the federal Individuals with Disability Education Act or IDEA.  This act has governed special education in public schools since the mid-1970s to not exclude those with special needs and disabilities from getting a public education.

VA Democratic Senator Tim Kaine asked Ms. DeVos whether schools that receive tax dollars should be require to meet the requirements of IDEA.

“I think that is a matter that’s best left to the states,” Ms. DeVos replied.

Mr. Kaine came back: “So some states might be good to kids with disabilities, and other states might not be so good, and then what? People can just move around the country if they don’t like how their kids are being treated?”

Ms. DeVos repeated, “I think that is an issue that’s best left to the states.”

“It’s federal law,” an exasperated Mr. Kaine replied.

Secretary of Education nominee Besty Devos is a threat to the Special Needs Community because she does not know what the IDEA is and how this federal program has helped kids with disabilities since the 1970s.  Betsy Devos is inadequate, not knowledgeable of basic education policies and programs, and has no experience in education.  The sad part is with a Republican majority Senate she will likely be confirmed.

Special Needs parents we need to continue to fight and be advocates for our children at all costs.

Stay Super, Make Mighty Moves, and Be Blessed!

~Erica