New York City budget could result in cuts to special ed for preschoolers, California risks its reputation as being developmental disability-friendly, the problematic vaccine stance of RFK Jr., and more developmental disability news for the week ending May 24, 2024.

New York

Early childhood education at center of budget talks between Mayor Adams and City Council Members “slammed” Adams’ proposed budget cuts to early education, noting that some money for programs like special ed for preschoolers will dry up without new investments. (Gothamist)

Outside of New York

California prioritizes electric school buses over preschool for children with disabilities Gov. Gavin Newsom invested millions into expanding preschool for children with disabilities. Now, he’s proposing to scale it back to invest more in electric school buses. (Edsource.org)

Man With IDD Stuck In Texas Jail For 5 Months After Group Home Called Police Such arrests are common in group home situations in Texas, according to Krishnaveni Gundu, co-founder and executive director of Texas Jail Project. (Disability Scoop)

Autism

Essay: My son is profoundly autistic. Please don’t say he’s merely ‘neurodiverse.’ This writer says advocates are fighting to eliminate terminology that accurately describes his son and thousands of people like him. (Boston Globe)

Essay: My 29-year-old Son Is on the Autism Spectrum — but It Doesn’t Stop Us From Traveling the World (Travel & Leisure)

Healthcare

Advocacy Groups Aim To Tackle Mental Health, Heart Issues Among Those With IDD National developmental disability advocacy groups are inking multimillion-dollar partnerships with big players in health care to better address co-occurring conditions. The goal: To reduce the number of mental health crisis incidents. (Disability Scoop)

Opinion

How RFK Jr. and Shanahan help deliver false hope to parents of children with autism (CNN)

Feigned outrage over the education of students with disabilities in school choice won’t close opportunity gaps How school choice is leaving vulnerable students behind, exacerbating educational opportunity gaps that already loom large. (k12dive.com)

Star Turn

Bradley Cooper Producing PBS Documentary About Family Caregivers Set to premiere in 2025, it will examine both systemic issues within the care system — where more than 50 million Americans provide unpaid care to family members — as well as tell personal stories of people who care for loved ones. (Hollywood Reporter)