Stand Up for Our Students: A Call to Action for Students with Disabilities

The city’s failure to provide students with disabilities required services is a systemic crisis that will have long lasting impacts on our students. The time to act is now!

MaryJo Ginese is the UFT Vice President for Special Education and a member of Unity Caucus

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Despite the strong measures the Union negotiated for Special Education in the 2023 contract, thousands of our most vulnerable students are still not receiving all of their IEP mandated services. This is particularly infuriating considering the State and Federal government has already compensated the DOE for providing these services to students. The Department’s incompetence, lack of organization, and moral indifference are blocking students from receiving their services. Make no mistake, this is not a bureaucratic oversight; it’s a systemic crisis that will have long lasting impacts on our students if swift action is not taken immediately. 

It is with this in mind that I highlight the President Mulgrew’s call to action. On Tuesday Morning (10/15/24), Michael Mulgrew wrote a letter to Dr. Betty Rosa, Commissioner of Education and President of the University of the State of New York, informing her of the numerous ways that the city is failing to meet their obligations to students with special needs in the city of New York. The President made clear the UFT, “…refuses to accept these learning conditions for our students and working conditions for our members.” Instead, the Union is prepared to fight for the students we care for because we know that when we fight, we win. 

The first step is to make sure that you use your voice to fully report the extent of this crisis. A brief survey was sent to chapter leaders and paraprofessional representatives. The survey inquires as to how students with special needs are not being serviced by the Department of Education at your school. Once submitted, the survey will be reviewed by the UFT and remain confidential. It will serve as an important tool for the Union to use in forcing the DOE to provide the services it is obligated to offer to our students.

The Union is calling on chapter leaders to complete the survey with the assistance of para representatives, but we urge all special education teachers, general education teachers with students requiring services, paraprofessionals, and other service providers to connect with your chapter leader and para rep this week. The Chapter Leader will need your insights to be able to illustrate the scope of this serious problem. 

This is a busy time of year, but this situation cannot wait. Take action this week! Help your chapter leader and para representatives gather vital information about special education in your school and join the fight to ensure our students with special needs receive the support they deserve.

Together, we will demand change!