🎙️ Special Ed Rising: Purge 47 EditionWhile families are focused on graduations, IEP meetings, and summer prep, a dangerous regulatory rollback is quietly unfolding. The Department of Energy (DOE), under the Trump administration, has issued a direct final rule—a shortcut usually reserved for noncontroversial housekeeping—to eliminate accessibility standards for buildings that receive federal funds. This move guts long-standing disability rights protections without public debate or transparency.In this episode, host Mark Ingrassia breaks down the real-world implications of this rule change—from the elimination of the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS) to the erosion of communication access, employment protections, and enforcement tools. The stakes are clear: less access, fewer rights, and more exclusion. This is not red tape—this is civil rights. And they’re trying to gut them quietly.💥 Highlights:What a “direct final rule” is and why it’s being used deceptivelyThe specific disability protections being eliminated—UFAS, transition plans, communication access, employment protections, and public noticesReal-world consequences for students, veterans, workers, and familiesWhat this means for Section 504 protections across other federal agenciesActions you can still take to push back—even after the public comment deadline has passed📛 What’s Being Rescinded:UFAS (10 C.F.R. § 1040.73) – No clear accessibility standard = patchwork compliance and inaccessibilityTransition Plans (10 C.F.R. § 1040.72) – No roadmap for making older buildings usableCommunication Access (10 C.F.R. § 1040.5 & § 1040.6) – LEP and disabled users lose guaranteed access to infoEmployment Protections (§§ 1040.1, 1040.12, 1040.14) – Easier to discriminate without accountabilityPosting of Rights (10 C.F.R. § 1040.102) – No visible notice = no awareness = no complaints🚨 What’s at Stake:Physical Access: Fewer ramps, narrower doors, inaccessible restrooms, labs, or entrancesCommunication Gaps: Safety alerts and essential info may be unreadable or unavailableEmployment Discrimination: Bias in hiring, retention, and promotion could go uncheckedLegal Ambiguity: With no standards to follow, lawsuits may replace prevention🛠️ What You Can Still Do (Post-June 16):✅ 1. Contact Your Members of Congress📢 Sample script: “I oppose the DOE’s rescission of accessibility standards. This is an attack on civil rights and public input. Please investigate and stop this rule.”✅ 2. Partner With AdvocatesCollaborate with:National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)Access LivingEnergy Justice NetworkGreen New Deal Network✅ 3. Keep It PublicUse and follow these hashtags:#AccessNotOptional | #DisabilityRightsNow | #StopTheRollback | #HoldDOEAccountable✅ 4. Write to the MediaLetters to the editor and op-eds help keep pressure on lawmakers and DOE✅ 5. FOIA RequestsRequest internal DOE communications—transparency is our ally✅ 6. Track Legal ActionStay connected to groups pursuing lawsuits or administrative complaints✅ 7. Petition and OrganizeStart petitions, host virtual town halls, or join webinars on disability advocacy🗂️ Docket Numbers to Track:DOE-HQ-2025-0015 (UFAS...

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