Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month: Fund the IDEA Act

The RAC is proud to bring thousands of teens to Washington D.C. for our annual L'Taken Social Justice Seminars. After three days of intensive programming and learning about just a few of the many issues prevalent in our country today, all participants travel to Capitol Hill to meet with their members of Congress and advocate on issues they care about.

As we celebrate Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM), we are honored to share a personal account of the impact of special educational services. Rapheal is a member of Congregation Har HaShem in Boulder, Colorado and delivered this speech at a L'Taken seminar in February  2026.

Disability rights are important to me because the things I do are all important.

I go to classes. I play. I work. I learn Math, English and PE. All the same things as every other student. That is important to me because it is good for all human beings to learn and grow. I should be able to go to school like everyone else.

I also participate in the special olympics and with support and help, I can accomplish great things. I run on the track team and I have been able to beat a lot of people in the race.

I can do what other people can do, but differently.

I want to talk about the IDEA Act (S. 1277/H.R. 2598).

The IDEA Act ensures that students with disabilities get the same kind of education opportunities as everyone else.

But the IDEA Act is not being funded fully. This is the IDEA Full Funding Act.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) ensures that students with disabilities receive free, appropriate, public education that meets their needs. Prior to IDEA, millions of children with disabilities were denied entry into public schools or were not provided with support to meet their needs. More students need special education services than decades ago when the original law was enacted. The number of students with disabilities under IDEA has increased by over 25 percent in the past two decades, with over 7.5 million students currently receiving special education services designed to meet their individual needs.

The Torah says, “Do not disdain any person… for there is no person who does not have his hour, and there is no thing without its place in the sun” (Pirkei Avot). I resonate with this quote because I believe that everyone in the world is important. People with disabilities are also important; many of them are nice, smart, and intellectual. People with disabilities should have the same education as someone without a disability because they deserve the same opportunities. Opportunities like a good GPA, graduating, going to college, and getting a job.

I urge Senator Hickenlooper to cosponsor the IDEA Full Funding Act (S. 1277) in the 119th Congress. The IDEA Full Funding Act would ensure that the federal government provides our public schools with the funding initially promised when the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was first passed. This funding is critical to ensure students with disabilities receive the quality education they deserve. Thank you.

Join Raphael in urging Congress to pass the IDEA Full Funding Act (S. 1277/H.R. 2598). Learn more about our work on disability rights.