Summer Strategies for Special Education Advocacy

For many families raising children with unique abilities, navigating the education system goes far beyond academics. It means advocating for your child’s dignity, equity, and sense of belonging. As the summer sun enters the space, it offers a powerful opportunity for parents and caregivers to get rooted in purpose, reflect on their child’s needs, and prepare with intention for the school year ahead. Now more than ever, your voice shapes the outcomes your child deserves.

What’s Changing with IDEA and why it matters

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) faces serious financial strain. The proposed federal budget for 2026 keeps IDEA funding at a standstill, despite rising student needs. Even more concerning, the proposal aims to eliminate critical programs like the University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs) (Disability Scoop, 2025; New America, 2025).

With this in mind, educators and lawmakers have warned that these cuts could strip away key programs, services, and accommodations, especially for students in underserved communities (Arundel, 2025). Although Congress reintroduced the IDEA Full Funding Act, it still lacks the universal support needed to protect long-term access (Autism Speaks, 2025).

Given these developments, summer becomes more than a break. It is a pivot, for you, the parent-caregiver, to prepare and press forward.

4 Summer Strategies to Strengthen Your Advocacy

• Review your child’s IEP or 504 plan: Before the new school year starts, pull out the plan and mark progress: Which goals did your child meet? Which goals still need work? Note how your child’s skills improved at home, in social settings, during therapy, and with kinship caregivers.
• Reconnect with key members of your community while respecting their break: If your child attends summer school or therapy, use those sessions to touch base. Send a brief, gracious email to the teachers or providers already working with your child and outline your goals for the fall. A quick thank-you note or mid-summer check-in with the principal shows you stay active, informed, and invested, while still honoring staff downtime.
• Track summer learning wins: Log every victory: camp projects, library reading, cooking skills, social milestones. Capture what excites your child and where support is still needed. This evidence will strengthen your position in fall IEP or 504 meetings.
• Build your support circle; Join parent networks, especially groups that uplift Black and Brown families raising neurodivergent children. These communities offer cultural insight, advocacy tools, and, most importantly, affirmation.

A Final Word of Encouragement

Being rooted in purpose doesn’t mean doing everything; it means acting with intention. You don’t need to be an expert to advocate for your child! Just know your child, your rights, and your worth, and you’re ready!

At Seeds 2 Nurture, we’ve felt what it’s like to stand alone in a system not built for us. Yet we also know the power of faith, strategy, and community. This summer, prepare in love and step forward in advocacy.

And “Expect 2 Excel!”

~TY Marian

Reference(s):

Arundel, K. (2025, April 3). Special education cuts will have ‘immense harm,’ Democrats say. K–12 Dive. https://www.k12dive.com/news/special-education-cuts-immense-harm-Congress-Trump/744400/

New America. (2025, May). What to know about education funding in Trump’s budget. https://www.newamerica.org/education-policy/edcentral/what-to-know-about-education-funding-in-trumps-budget/

Disability Scoop. (2025, April 8). Ed Department faces questions about future of special education. https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2025/04/08/ed-department-faces-questions-about-future-of-special-education/31398/

Disability Scoop. (2025, June 5). Trump budget calls for major changes to disability programs. https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2025/06/05/trump-budget-calls-for-major-changes-to-disability-programs/31479/