In response to the U.S. Department of Education’s recent announcement of its intention to move oversight of civil rights to the U.S. Department of Justice and special education services to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the American Diabetes Association® (ADA) issued the following statement.
Children with disabilities, including diabetes, have legal protections under federal laws such as Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, enforced by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, enforced by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS). The OCR and OSERS are currently divisions of the U.S. Department of Education. The OCR will be moved to the Department of Justice and the OSERS will be moved to the Department of Health and Human Services.
The ADA is concerned that these moves will have an adverse impact upon the 364,000 youth in the U.S. who live with diabetes and are protected by these federal disability laws. The ADA believes the department’s actions reduce the federal government’s ability to monitor, oversee, and enforce these federal laws, as well as the federal government’s oversight over states. Less federal oversight will result in fewer students with diabetes receiving accommodations, special services, and aids to ensure their diabetes needs are met in the school setting. Failure to provide for these services represents unfair treatment based on their health status. By moving the OCR and OSER to other agencies, the department’s actions will put the health and safety of children with diabetes at risk if they cannot safely attend school and are not supported to achieve academic success.
Through the Safe at School® campaign, the ADA is committed to keeping our children with diabetes safe during school and school-sponsored activities, as well as protecting and defending their legal rights. The ADA calls upon the administration and Congress to take expedient action to keep these offices and the services they carry out within the Department of Education.
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About the American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization fighting to end diabetes and helping people thrive. This year, the ADA celebrates 85 years of driving discovery and research to prevent, manage, treat, and ultimately cure diabetes—and we’re not stopping. There are over 155 million Americans living with diabetes or prediabetes. Through advocacy, program development, and education, we’re fighting for them all. To learn more or to get involved, visit us at or call 1-800-DIABETES (800-342-2383). Join us in the fight on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Spanish Facebook (Asociación Americana de la Diabetes), LinkedIn (American Diabetes Association), and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn). To learn more about how we are advocating for everyone affected by diabetes, visit us on X (@AmDiabetesAssn).
