Children with disabilities amidst political unrest
Do situations such as have been occurring in Minneapolis affect our kids?
Please see editor’s note1 in footnotes.
Over on The 74 Million, Jo Napolitano published a piece on 23 January 2026 about the concerns of parents of children with disabilities (and advocates for them). Ms. Napolitano explained parents fears about children’s safety during the confrontations in Minneapolis (MN, US), but also the disquiet about lots educational opportunities.
Regardless of whether one supports or decries the actions in Minnesota, there are risks for children in general and our kids in particular. Ms. Napolitano reports these concerns clearly in her article.
The Trump administration’s weeks-long immigration enforcement campaign in Minneapolis, which has shuttered schools and terrified students and parents, has left one group particularly vulnerable: children with disabilities.
Their families, who already fear their kids shutting down, running away, harming themselves or acting out when confronted under normal circumstances, have seen their anxiety skyrocket as they contemplate worst-case scenarios with federal agents.
Ms. Napolitano went on to chronicle experiences of individuals with autism and their parents. Her focus on autism overlooked the allegations of fraudulent programs for children with autism and their families in Minnesota (see “More ABA Medicaid fraud” from Special Education Today, 3 January 2025).
Other reports also cover the story of kids with disabilities in Minneapolis. See Shauneen Miranda’s earlier report about families living in chaotic situations in
See also, a report by Maanvi Singh of The Guardian, published on 24 January 2026 “ICE raids turn life into a daily terror for Minneapolis schoolkids: ‘This is a generational trauma’: As Trump-deployed agents pervade the region, students struggle to carry on with lessons while carrying grief and fear that they or their loved ones will be taken.“
Special educators who are in the Minneapolis vicinity have also expressed consent in private conversations. I hope some will comment here.
These observations about events in the US say nothing about concerns about kids with disabilities in strife-torn parts of Earth. Children acquire disabilities as a result of war (one report in 2025 indicated that “over 21,00 children” in Gaza have disabilities as a consequence of warfare and another explained how kids with disabilities have been even more marginalized than before warfare began. International organizations such as UNICEF and the International Review of the Red Cross have been stalwarts in advocating for children with disabilities in areas of Earth that are being wrecked by war.
Footnote
“Stuff” is happening rapidly these days. I shall be posting repeatedly about individual topics. I will probably overlook some relevant news and information. I apologize if I miss something important or if I overwhelm you. Please let the know either way (or for other reasons). Thanks to Dear Readers who are sending me notes through back channels to let me know about events such as these.