Education Department Hosts Virtual Summit Today, Announces New Efforts and Resources for Supporting Mental Health and Students with Disabilities
Categories: US Education News
Today, the U.S. Department of Education will host a first-of-its-kind virtual summit, From Recovery to Thriving: Supporting Mental Health & Students with Disabilities, to highlight steps schools, colleges, and communities can take to support students with disabilities and students with mental health needs.The summit will spotlight the essential partnership between schools and families to ensure effective implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The Department is also releasing new resources for schools, colleges, and communities to promote mental health and the social and emotional well-being of children and students. “Today’s summit is a testament to the strength and resilience of the disability community, a community that we know has faced unique challenges in the face of the pandemic,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “The Department stands ready to help educators, school and program staff, and families thoughtfully design learning experiences—and to ensure students with disabilities continue to have equal access to in-person instruction. May is also Mental Health Awareness Month, and today’s summit demonstrates the ongoing commitment of the Biden-Harris administration to protecting our students’ social-emotional well-being.”The Department's efforts today build on President Biden's Unity Agenda goal of transforming how Americans understand, access, and treat mental health. “The last few years have been especially tough on students—and students with disabilities, in particular, who’ve faced huge barriers and had their lives turned upside down,” said U.S. Sen. Patty Murray. “We owe it to every single student with a disability and every single student struggling with mental health challenges to get them the support they need in order to thrive inside and out of the classroom. That’s why I worked so hard to pass the American Rescue Plan and get students and schools the resources they need to get back in the classroom safely and get their learning back on track, and I’m glad Secretary Cardona is so focused on eliminating barriers for students with disabilities—and making sure all students can get the quality education they deserve.”