Executive director and CLE co-founder, Lauren Morando Rhim makes a guest appearance on #FreedomFriday with Christ Stewart and Sharif El-Mekki.
Throughout the course of 10 months, Blount designed her first prototype of what she called an “invalid feeder” utilizing a file, plastic, hammer, ice pick, dishes and boiling water to melt the plastic into a mold. To operate the device, a patient would bite down on a tube to activate a motor and a small amount of food would dispense through a spoon-shaped mouthpiece. Between each delivery of food, the device would automatically shut off to allow the patient time to chew.
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, schools were able to move students with disabilities into virtual settings without holding an individualized education program meeting to change their educational placement.
CLE partnered with the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) in early December to conduct a live webisode on our 2021 report, Lighting the Path to Inclusion. As schools continue working to respond to and recover from the pandemic’s impacts, this timely conversation focused on school leaders committed to learning outcomes for students with disabilities.
CLE applauds Federal District Court Judge Yeakel’s ruling striking down Texas’ Executive Order prohibiting mask mandates in schools. We are thrilled that these Texas students will now be able to safely access their education, and we hope this court decision is a wake-up call to the other states that have implemented similar discriminatory prohibitions.
CLE’s latest brief, How Has the Pandemic Affected Students with Disabilities? A Review of the Evidence to Date, examines the impacts of COVID-19 on students with disabilities based on a review of hundreds of studies. In particular, the report highlights widespread disruptions to student’s Individual Education Programs (IEPs) and Section 504 plans. It also examines significant disparities in access to specialized services and draws attention to areas of further inquiry.
In this recorded webinar, Wendy Tucker, CLE’s Senior Director of Policy, discusses new US Department of Education guidance for upholding IDEA during COVID-19 and explores critical issues facing schools 18 months into the COVID-19 pandemic.
CLE report cited in Chalkbeat Colorado’s “Special ed questions on charter school apps violate federal law, complaints allege”.
In response to state mandates prohibiting local school districts from implementing mask requirements in public K-12 schools, The Center for Learner Equity calls upon state leaders to reverse those decisions and allow districts and local authorities to implement policies that will afford safer, equal access to school for all students, including those with disabilities.
On July 2, 2021, EdDive published an article highlighting key takeaways from the 2021 ISTE conference, quoting Program Manager Lauren Krempecki.