As the Trump administration takes aim at DEI policies and programs, special education professors explain how this can hurt people with disabilities.
On Jan. 21, President Donald Trump, on his first day in office, released an Executive Order to remove federal contracting requirements for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. DEI policies are designed to ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to education, resources, and opportunities.
These policies provide accessible classrooms, support for individual learning styles, and foster inclusive environments. They also help students with disabilities in career services, internships, and mentorships.
At Winthrop University, DEI policies are an integral part of the community. One program, WinthropLIFE (Learning is for Everyone), is a federally designated Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP) that offers college education to students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The program provides personalized schedules, partial traditional courses, internships, and specialty courses aimed at skill development.
Winthrop also offers programs for students who want to become special education teachers, providing opportunities for hands-on experience working with children in K-12 schools.
With the removal of DEI policies, Winthrop’s community and individuals are affected.
Isabelle Lockhart, a sophomore, shared her thoughts on the changes.
When asked about the impact of the DEI removal on her ability to access extra support for her education, she said, “Nothing has been impacted for me yet, but my friends who are in the process of receiving accommodations are having a hard time.”
Lockhart also discussed her opinion on the removal of DEI programs and its effect on how educators and peers understand and address the needs of students with disabilities.
“It has brought light to the true colors of professors and students who do not care about disabled people or their needs, but I fear this has always been an issue,” said Lockhart. “However, with the executive order that essentially repealed the DEI, I am concerned that this will worsen the issue and make it even harder to gain accommodations but also use them successfully.”
When asked what challenges she has faced since the DEI removal, Lockhart expressed concern about the impact on job opportunities.
“More companies are removing DEI initiatives which, as a student who works part-time, affects places I have an opportunity to work for and maintain a job—because even getting a job with disabilities is difficult itself, to the point where a company cannot hire you because of it.”
Lockhart emphasized, “Students with disabilities should simply be able to get the assistance they need. Being a college student is hard enough, and with a disability you are working even harder to be on a level playing field.” She concluded, “we need to make the process of applying and accommodations easier.”
Winthrop’s Special Education Assistant Professor Amy Clausen also spoke about the DEI removal and its impact. She noted that, to her knowledge, there have been no changes at Winthrop yet.
“Right now, 17 states, including South Carolina, are suing to repeal parts or all of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which protects the civil rights of people with disabilities in institutions receiving federal funds,” she said. “However, the law sets minimum standards. I have faith that even if it is repealed, Winthrop will continue to meet the needs of all their students.”
Clausen added, “I know that the faculty has been having conversations about what the changes to federal and state laws mean for us and also the students. I am not aware of any changes to policies currently. Every faculty member I have spoken with is committed to the success of all students.”
Asked about the challenges she faces as an educator in advocating for students with disabilities, Clausen said, “As an educator in public schools and now as a teacher educator, I am always fighting for inclusion and accessibility. I am extremely concerned about the recent moves by our federal and state government to repeal and revoke funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.” She urged, “I urge everyone to do the same.”
Dr. April Mustian, a fellow professor, also shared her perspective. Mustian explained that South Carolina’s attorney general recently pulled out of a lawsuit that challenged Section 504, which includes accommodations for college students and employees with disabilities.
“Luckily, enough SC citizens made calls to their representatives, and South Carolina is now pulling out of that lawsuit,” she said. “So, students at Winthrop should still be able to access needed support through OA.”
Mustian noted, “As a faculty member in the College of Education, Sport, & Human Sciences (CESHS), I can say with quite a bit of certainty that my colleagues and I are steadfastly committed to supporting our students in all the ways that they need, regardless of which words are or are not allowed to be used. The language may change, but our efforts should not. Our collective goal remains to ensure all students feel seen, valued, heard, and that their learning experiences are positive ones.”
On the challenges of teaching in the absence of DEI-focused initiatives, Mustian explained, “One area of great challenge is if the state passes any legislation related to the use of DEI language in course syllabi or content. In my field of Special Education, I use the word include or inclusion at least 20 times a day in my courses. You cannot teach about disability and educational access for school-aged children with disabilities without using that word.”
She continued, “We have a moral and ethical obligation to prepare our teacher candidates to support students and families from all backgrounds and walks of life, including disability status. Another incredible challenge happening right now with the federal government’s attempts to upend many federal agencies and initiatives is the loss of federal grants supporting PK-12 schools and the field of teaching. Our jobs become that much more challenging – and nearly impossible – without federal funding to implement important reforms and improve student outcomes for special populations.”
“With the hope of Section 504, Winthrop is behind the support of education for all” expressed Mustian.
