The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act includes a provision asking U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to recommend to Congress any waivers to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for states and school districts that she believes are necessary due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We expect her to make these recommendations before the end of April.

School districts and states do need more help to support families and keep students learning remotely—but this is not a reason to roll back the rights of students with disabilities.

We all remember when Governor Andrew Cuomo so sagely said: My mother is not expendable. Your mother is not expendable. We will not put a dollar figure on human life. We can have a public health strategy that is consistent with an economic one.

These are the values that must guide us through uncertain times.

We can have an education policy strategy that is consistent with an economic one. Disabled children's educational rights are not expendable. Write to your Congressional representatives today and demand that they reject waivers to the IDEA that would erase the hard-won civil rights of children with disabilities.