Dear Colleagues,

We here at Diversity Academy for Interpreters (DAI) are reaching out with urgency to discuss the implications of recent staffing cuts at the U.S. Department of Education, particularly affecting the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). It’s crucial for us to recognize that these changes are not only consequential for Deaf-Centered agencies but for all of us advocating for inclusive education even for the access needs of Interpreters too.

As you know, OSEP plays an essential role in ensuring that our nearly 8 million learners with disabilities, including those who are Deaf, receive the education they deserve. We all know this must include the use of Interpreters for accessibility. With dwindling Interpreting staff, we will all face delays and obstacles that hinder our capacity to serve effectively.

It is vital that we band together, beyond our specific interpreting communities, to demand action. Let’s join forces to educate others about the pivotal role OSEP plays and advocate for the restoration of its staff and for ensuring accessibility rights for DHHDB diverse students too.

Please take action now by sharing your experiences and contacting your congressional representatives to express the need for restored positions at OSEP. Together, we can make our collective voices heard.

Thank you for standing in solidarity for every DHHDB student’s right to a quality education.

View the National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes video response to these cuts.

Dr. Suzette Garay, PhD

Diversity Academy of Interpreters, Visionary Leader