Schools provide critical structure and therapies, especially for students with disabilities. Students with disabilities access speech and communication services, mental health therapy, behavioral therapy and supports, physical or occupational therapies, and a host of other individualized services designed to meet their unique needs.
As COVID-related school closures swept across the state, families who were no longer able to access essential therapies and services reached out to Disability Rights Washington for help. DRW, the Northwest Justice Project, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington sent a letter requesting the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Governor address the sudden loss of essential education services for students with disabilities.