34. "Your IEP Didn't Fall Out of a Coconut Tree" (feat. Olivia O'Connell)

As the 2024 Presidential Election approaches, Blonde & Blind is amplifying the voices of a group often overlooked—students with disabilities. Olivia O’Connell, a dedicated disability rights activist, joins Marissa to talk about how the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Department of Education ensure that students get the accommodations they need. Magnifiers, extended time, and teachers of the visually-impaired (TVIs) don’t come from the kindness of a school district’s heart; they are federally-mandated tools and services that are critical for student success. Olivia shares how her Individualized Education Plan (IEP) supported her and why funding IDEA ensures students have access to a free appropriate public education. With Donald Trump proposing to close the Department of Education, Marissa and Olivia highlight how dissolving the agency responsible for ensuring equal access to education would negatively impact students across the country.

Olivia O’Connell is a senior at the University of Michigan studying Political Science and History. She is currently an At-Large Presidential Fellow with the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, where she is conducting research on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, its funding, and its impacts on students with disabilities at the local level. She also has experience working on Capitol Hill, at nonprofit organizations, with government relations firms, and in community-based advocacy groups. She is dedicated to protecting democracy and championing the rights of historically marginalized communities, especially students and young adults with disabilities.

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Connect with Olivia! 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/oliviaelizao/ 

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliviaelizabeth 

Key Points:

00:00 - Introduction and Background

05:25 - What sparked your interest in politics and disability advocacy?

06:49 - What is IDEA?

08:15 - How has IDEA impacted your life?

11:15 - What is the concept of "Least Restrictive Environment" and why is it important for students with disabilities?

12:52 - Why does IDEA need funding? Where does that money go?

16:03 - What does "full funding" for IDEA mean and why is it important?

19:21 - Many Republican politicians, including Donald Trump, have explicitly proposed eliminating the Department of Education and redirecting all IDEA funding to states with no strings attached. How do you think this could impact students with disabilities?

23:19 - What should people do if they want to take action?

Resources & Transcript - https://www.blondeblind.com/post/34-your-iep-didn-t-fall-out-of-a-coconut-tree-feat-olivia-o-connell