Transition services should produce paychecks and references. Track paid hours, job shadows, interviews, and supervisor feedback. Build a résumé before graduation and connect students with vocational rehabilitation so work continues after high school.
The U.S. Department of Education has begun laying off 466 employees during the federal shutdown, which is about one fifth of the agency’s remaining staff. Several offices that protect civil rights and support students with disabilities are among the hardest hit. Reports indicate that the Office of Special Education Programs is dropping from about 200 … Continue reading When the Safety Net Frays: What Federal Layoffs Mean for Special Education
If it is not written, it did not happen. Set a clean baseline for every IEP, build a five-day documentation rhythm, and use clear definitions that honor students. Clean data exposes gaps and drives better service.
Rigor is love. Black students with disabilities deserve grade-level instruction, weekly wins, and tutoring that responds to real data. Lowered expectations protect adults. High expectations with support protect futures.
Language in Special Education is not neutral. Terms like “case manager” and “caseload” mirror the criminal justice system, not a learning community. This is a clear connection between SPED and carceral culture. I choose Advocate and Student Roster, because our students are people, not files. Change the language, change the culture.
Teachers should allow ChatGPT with purpose and guardrails. Use it for brainstorming, reading support, feedback, and study help, not to produce final drafts. Start with teacher-led demos in K to 2, guided small-group use in grades 3 to 5, limited independent use with checks in grades 6 to 8, and accountable independent use in grades 9 to 12 and college. Keep equity, privacy, and visible thinking at the center.
Washington school districts are navigating deep special education funding gaps, staffing shortages, and the complex transition to more inclusive practices. From Seattle to Spokane, districts are reimagining services and calling for state support, yet they also need practical tools that ease workloads and strengthen family partnerships. Thought Cost offers co-planning supports, progress monitoring, and bilingual-ready communication systems to help districts deliver on equity and inclusion, student by student.
Over the past three years, I have invested one hundred seventy-five thousand dollars of my own money into building educational technology solutions designed to close gaps that harm students with disabilities. From VEqual, an immersive virtual school that began as a science lab, to ReadEase, an AI-powered reading tutor, to the AI IEP Assistant that helps teachers focus on delivering services rather than just writing plans, these tools were built to create real change. This is not a story of failure. This is a call for partners who believe in equity, inclusion, and innovation in special education.
The potential defunding of the U.S. Department of Education threatens special education nationwide. Cuts to IDEA and Title I funding could reduce resources, undermining Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Culturally Responsive Teaching. States like Washington may rely on agencies like DSHS to fill gaps, but advocacy and alternative funding are crucial to protecting equitable education access.
Tomorrow marks four years since Thoughts Cost began with one student and a mission to create meaningful change during the uncertainty of the pandemic. From humble beginnings with no plan or income, we have grown into a movement that builds programs, develops EdTech tools, and secures state-level contracts to empower students, families, and educators. This journey has been defined by resilience, creativity, and a commitment to equity and inclusion.
Thoughts Processed 