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DOGE Cuts Popular Program for Students With Disabilities

Thu, 08 May 2025 20:27:30 GMT

Takeaways

The Department of Government Efficiency abruptly canceled the Charting My Path for Future Success program only a month after its launch. The program aimed to assist students with disabilities in transitioning from high school to college or the workforce.
The program offered personalized planning, goal-setting, and mentoring to help students with disabilities explore their strengths, interests, and potential career paths.
Students and educators said they appreciated the hands-on activities, structured self-reflection, and personalized guidance provided by the program.
Despite the program’s cancellation, various resources are available for parents of students with disabilities.

In January 2025, a new program designed to assist students with disabilities in transitioning from high school to college or the workforce started helping about 1,100 students in 13 school districts across the country. Despite positive feedback, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, canceled the program about one month after it opened to students. Students, parents, and educators who were excited about the potential of the program are left wondering how, or if, they may be able to replace or replicate the program.

The program, Charting My Path for Future Success, was a promising new initiative launched by the United States Department of Education. Designed to help students with disabilities connect their academic experiences to real-world goals, the program emphasized self-discovery, career planning, and long-term success.

What Charting My Path for Future Success Offered

Charting My Path centered around helping students create personalized plans for their future, whether those plans involved college, vocational training, entrepreneurship, or entering the workforce directly after high school. With guidance from trained advisers, students explored their strengths, interests, and potential career paths. In its most robust form, the program offered goal-setting exercises and one-on-one mentoring.

What set Charting My Path apart was its emphasis on helping students take ownership of their futures. It encouraged them to see themselves as active planners in their own journeys, not just passive participants in school systems.

Why Students and Educators Liked Charting My Path

Though its existence was brief, the program made an impression. Students appreciated the hands-on activities and time for structured self-reflection, something often missing in traditional academic settings. Teachers and counselors liked the way it attracted students who were otherwise disengaged or uncertain about their post-graduation plans.

The program also aligned well with existing educational goals, complementing career and technical education and college-readiness programs without duplicating them. Many educators said it filled a gap by providing personalized guidance without the pressure of grades or standardized testing.

Why the Program Was Canceled

The program’s cancellation on February 10 caught many off guard. Department of Education spokesperson Madi Biedermann told NPR that the program was a research project “with questionable implementation,” but provided few specifics.

The Results of the Cancellation

The program’s abrupt end left many students and educators disappointed, and some districts scrambling to adjust their spring plans. Though the Department of Education has not announced any replacement, discussions continue about how to preserve the elements of the program that worked, especially its focus on student agency and long-term planning.

For now, Charting My Path for Future Success serves as both a case study in how quickly promising programs can be cut short, and a reminder of how deeply students value the chance to think meaningfully about their futures.

Guidance and Resources for Parents of Students With Disabilities

Though the Charting My Path for Future Success program has been shuttered, there are other education services and resources that parents of students with disabilities can turn to, including the following:

PACER Center. PACER Center offers training and information for parents of children with disabilities from birth to young adulthood. Information is available about special education programs, vocational training, employment, and other topics.
Think College. Think College is a national initiative dedicated to developing, expanding, and improving research and practice in higher education for students with intellectual disabilities.
National Technical Assistance Center on Transition: The Collaborative (NTACT:C). NTACT:C provides information, tools, and support to deliver effective services and instruction for secondary students and out-of-school youth with disabilities.
U.S. Department of Education – Office of Civil Rights (OCR). The OCR enforces federal civil rights laws in schools and with other recipients of Department of Education funding throughout the nation.
Center for Parent Information & Resources (CPIR). The CPIR acts as a central hub of resources designed specifically for the network of parent centers serving families of children with disabilities.
ABLE National Resource Center. The ABLE National Resource Center connects people with disabilities, their families, and others who support them to information about the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act and ABLE accounts .
Job Accommodation Network (JAN). JAN seeks to help employers recognize the valuable contributions that qualified workers with disabilities add to the workforce. It provides job accommodation solutions, trusted interactive process strategies, and practical guidance on Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act for free to employers. Individuals with disabilities can also contact JAN for assistance in understanding their rights.

For guidance in addressing the complex needs of children with disabilities as they transition to adulthood, contact a special needs planning attorney in your area.

Keep in mind that attorneys who specialize in this area of law can assist parents of children with disabilities with much more than navigating their child’s educational rights. They also can walk them through creating legal documents such as special needs trusts, ensure their child’s ability to qualify for government benefits, and help them develop long-term plans for their child’s financial security, health care, and, if appropriate, guardianship needs.

For additional reading about resources for students with disabilities, check out the following articles:

Welcome to our first Muffin Monday!

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 20:50:53 GMT

Every week, I make a batch of scratch-made muffins for my husband, Mike , and our children. The flavors vary, sometimes chocolate, blueberry lemon, cinnamon and sugar, or whatever inspires me that morning. It's become a lovely, warm way to kick off our week with a moment of connection, and I thought it would be equally as nice to connect with our client family on our site each Monday morning by answering common questions about estate planning, wills and trusts, powers of attorney, and more!

One of the most common questions I get asked is, “Do I need a trust?”

Usually a friend or coworker mentions that they got a trust with their estate planning attorney, which leads someone to call me and ask about trusts.

The answer to the question is of course every lawyer's favorite answer, which is ‘it depends.’

As part of our thoughtfully curated process, when you call to learn more about a trust, it is helpful for us to schedule a consultation so I can better understand your family and finances, goals and needs. I'll ask questions about your family, work, and finances like what your marital status is, do you have children and if so how old are they, and what kind of property you own.You'll receive a list of the types of questions I'll ask in advance, so you can feel more prepared for our meeting and feel more at ease.

As an estate attorney, this helps me assess whether a revocable trust (or sometimes more than one) is right for you. There are two main types of trusts (revocable and irrevocable trusts). I'll explain the difference in another post. For today's post, I'll be talking about revocable living trusts.

There's typically two reasons why I recommend a trust (I'll cover the second reason next week!). The first instance where I recommend a revocable trust is if you have minor children. This is because if you pass away, and a minor child inherits from you, a conservator is usually appointed to oversee the child’s money until the child is of legal age to take control of their own money.

The conservator could be someone you know or it could be someone appointed by the court, however, either way this would involve a court proceeding after you pass, which can be complicated for your loved ones to navigate, especially in the wake of your passing.

Generally, if the conservator is someone you know who asks the court to allow them to serve in this capacity, that person may have to go through a process to get a bond, get fingerprinted, and more. Then, there's court oversight where your child’s conservator may need to give the court annual reports about how the money is being invested or spent. This can be time consuming and inconvenient for your loved ones.

When your child reaches the legal age to take control of their money (usually 18 years old) they would receive their full inheritance all at once in a big lump sum payment. Most parents don't want their children to receive a large payout at a young age like eighteen. There are no guardrails to help your child manage a windfall in a situation like that. Many parents want to ensure that any money their child inherits would be able to benefit the child long-term rather than be spent in a flash before the child is even in their twenties.

Instead, you can establish a revocable living trust where you direct all of your assets after you pass away and create safeguards for your children where you determine what age they are when they inherit.

For example, many of our clients will direct that their children may inherit 25% at age 25, 25% at age 30, and the remainder at age 35. There are lots of ways you can go about distributing your children's inheritance to them, but the main thing to know is that a revocable living trust allows you to make those kinds of decisions while also appointing someone you know and trust to oversee the money on behalf of your children in the interim.

This way, you can have conversations with your appointed successor trustee (the person who would manage the trust after you pass away or if you become incapacitated) about how you want them to manage the money on behalf of your children. What type of expenses should be prioritized? Are there special things that are meaningful to your children you would want to continue to finance through your trust?

Setting up a trust doesn't have to be complicated, either. My job as a wills and trusts attorney is to help guide you through the choices you can make in your trust. I try to approach the process the way I would want a professional to guide me if I needed to create a document I wasn't familiar with for my children. It's important to get the details right. We take our time to get to know your needs and concerns so that your last will and testament and trust effectively work together for the best possible scenario for your loved ones, especially your children.

As part of our process (after your free consultation), we schedule a detailed design meeting to go through the key provisions in your estate plan including your durable power of attorney, medical power of attorney, living will, HIPAA waiver, and will. During this meeting we help you choose the terms that feel right for you and your family.

Then, we'll review those terms together during your document review to make sure you are comfortable with your plan and that it achieves your goals.

Creating a will and estate plan should be a collaborative relationship with your estate planning attorney. Estate planning is a critical component to protecting your children, and we'd be glad to help you accomplish this important step for your family.

Please introduce yourself here and let us know how we can help you create your estate plan today.

***This is not meant to be legal advice or to establish an attorney-client relationship with any reader. These topics are also stare-specific and what may be true in the states where I'm licensed to practice law (Nebraska, North Carolina, and Virginia), May not be true in other states***

Happy Birthday to The Vaillancourt Law Firm!

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 13:00:03 GMT

Running a law firm can be a challenge, and last year we were hit with massive challenge after challenge after challenge after challenge including a stolen vehicle, serious health issues, severe weather, personnel shakeups, and so much more.

By the fall, I decided to take a break and chose to not take on any new clients to give my family a chance to regroup and also give me the opportunity to continue to improve our systems to be able to bring exceptional service to our clients.

When I started this practice, I had so many plans. My son (who was two at the time) would be in daycare, so I could work all day uninterrupted. My husband, a sports broadcaster, was getting ready to have extra games to increase our income, which would allow me to slowly scale my new business.

Two weeks later, Covid changed everything. Daycare was closed. My husband's games were canceled. My networking events were canceled. We had a toddler at home, a new mortgage, an unfinished home renovation, and I was four months pregnant with our second child while trying to build this practice.

At that point, all plans were off. There was no time to build a case management system, no time to create thoughtful intake forms, no time to put together a comprehensive marketing plan.

Two weeks into my new practice, I just had to make it work.

And we did! For five years now, we've helped hundreds of families protect their loved ones with personalized, comprehensive wills, trusts, and other estate planning documents. It's been a pleasure getting to know so many people and to see the sense of peace they have knowing this important step has been accomplished.

But after last year, I knew we could do better.

For the last few months, I've taken time to reflect, to recharge, and to study our existing tools to figure out how to best use them to make our service even better.

I also rediscovered my love for the arts. As a child, I was mesmerized by ballet and orchestra concerts and plays. I attended my first opera in college and in law school volunteered for the Boston Ballet earning free tickets to every performance that season.

During my sabbatical, I began sketching and sharing art more with my children. I watched as our chaotic mornings with the kids transformed into calm and serenity with one minor change–we gave our children coloring pages to start their morning. I became a witness to the incredible power of art to soothe, inspire, and energize.

I began to wonder, could I incorporate art into my law practice? The answer was a resounding YES!

As I researched art law, I realized it fits in perfectly with estate planning. How do you ensure your art passes according to your wishes after you die? What do you do with art you inherit? Is the art authentic? How do you get it appraised? Do you have to pay capital gains taxes? Does the artist still have intellectual property rights to their creative work? Can you provide the art to a museum or gallery on consignment but still maintenance ownership?

The more I rediscovered my passion for art, the more I was inspired to serve the art community with my law practice.

Today, we are celebrating our birthday. Five years ago I started this practice under significantly challenging circumstances. We have weathered more storms than a Nebraska tornado season, and we are so much better for them.

We are celebrating not only the relaunch of our estate planning practice helping families (including those with minor children), we are celebrating the birth of our new practice area–art law (estate planning, business law, and intellectual property law for artists and collectors).

Other positive changes we've made the past few months:

We have revamped our intake forms to provide more information to our clients.

We have enhanced our client management system to ensure your case stays top of mind and front and center!

I have personally coached our new Client Services Director, Mike Vaillancourt, in his role ensuring every client has a smooth experience.

We've created a one-of-its kind client care program to continue keeping up with your estate for years to come.

And so much more.

I have truly never been so excited about our services and to serve Nebraska, North Carolina, and Virginia families and artists!

If you know someone who needs to protect their family with an estate plan or if you know an artist building their creative legacy, please have them email Mike @ thevaillancourtlawfirm.com.

We are happy to help!

Happy birthday to The Vaillancourt Law Firm, and thank you to all of you who have been part of this wild journey!

With heart,

Hillary

You CAN get organized in 2021!

Sun, 31 Jan 2021 17:03:39 GMT

Taking Control (By Hillary)

Let's be honest, 2020 was a mess. Not a beautiful, tangled up, heap of life mess. It was wave after wave of stress, mess. A twenty car pileup kind of mess. A train derailment mess. It was just bad.

I'm not particularly a fan of messes. I struggle with letting my toddler son make a mess of things. With so much to do already, who has the time to clean up an extra mess?

Sometimes that's a legitimate excuse. Sometimes it's me needing to keep everything in a tidy container. And by 'everything' I mean life. I need to keep my life on the tracks to avoid any messy derailments. Control is the key.

In fits of anxiety I put toy cars away in their garage, sanitize baby crinkle books and put them in their basket, and vacuum, sweep, fold laundry until I fall into our easy chair in an exhausted heap.

There are things we can control, and then there are things we can't. I remember my dad always loved the serenity prayer, the one that says, "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference." The same probably applies to things we can control.

I can control a lot of messes, but the truth is a few extra cracker crumbs isn't what keeps me up at night. It's worrying about paying bills, putting food on my family's table, and making sure my babies are learning, growing, and loved.

This week, after an hour long call, a client and I were talking about this, about stress and worries and taking control. For her, knowing her end-of-life wishes would be respected, that her children would be taken care of, and her affairs would be in order, this was a huge relief to her. She said she would be able to sleep well for the first time since Covid brought some of these issues starkly into focus for her and her family.

As I'm typing this, my five month old daughter is asleep on my chest. My almost three year old son is sleeping next to me. There's a pile of laundry that needs to be sorted and folded. Dishes that need to be washed, dried, and put away. And I never got a shower after my workout, because my daughter needed to nurse and fell asleep on me instead.

What I'm coming to understand is there will always be messes. Chaos is part of life, especially with two littles. I am learning to take control of the things I can, the things that need controlling. And then letting everything else go with the flow.

Taking Control ( to take control of your end-of-life planning such as drafting a will, please give us a call. We'll help you get organized so you can enjoy the things that really matter in life, like the sleepy smiles of a contented baby.

For more on getting organized, check out our video HERE .

Three Tips For Choosing a Guardian For Your Children

Fri, 05 Jun 2020 16:02:47 GMT

By: Hillary D. Vaillancourt, Esq.

Most of us don’t give much thought to having a will until we welcome our first child. Then, somewhere in the back of our minds, we start to wonder, What happens to my child if something happens to me?

However, too many families do not have an estate plan (a will, a medical directive, a healthcare proxy, and a power of attorney). You know you need one, but you drag your feet hoping nothing bad happens (and most likely stressing about it in the meantime). You’re not alone.

In fact, Mike and I had trouble creating our own estate plan, and I’m an estate planning lawyer! Why?

One of the most common reasons why families fail to have a plan is because they can’t decide on a guardian for their child or children. That was the reason Mike and I struggled to draft a plan when we welcomed our now toddler son.

We love our family members and have really great friends, but who was just right to step in and take our place if we should both pass away?

The truth is, nobody is ever going to love and care for your children the way you do. You’re their parents. You have been there through the boo-boos and nightmares, the first words and coos and hugs and smooches. You may have carried your child. You may have watched your partner carry your child and seen the little toes and fingers punching against Mama’s belly. The bond of parenthood is unlike any other.

It is also true, however, that failing to have a plan at all means your children may end up in foster care at least for a time until legal guardianship can be established. Meanwhile, your children will be in the care of strangers instead of with someone you love and trust.

So, how do you finally decide who should serve as a guardian of your children?

Make a List

Most likely if you think of all the people you know who you would prefer to take care of your kids more than a foster family, you can come up with a pretty hefty list.

I have the utmost respect for foster families, by the way. This is not meant to villify foster families at all. But, we generally would prefer that our children be immediately brought into the care of trusted family or friends known to us than a foster family, especially in the aftermath of a crisis such as your passing.

Determine Your Values

After you have your list of all of your potential candidates, the next step is to consider what your core values are and the values with which you want your children to be raised.

Is eating clean food and spending time together eating at the table as a family important to you? Or, maybe you don’t care how many times you eat meals from the drive-thru so long as your kids stay active and are in lots of activities.

Maybe it’s important to you that your children learn the value of giving back and volunteering. Or, maybe you want your kids to know the value of the dollar and working hard to be financially stable.

Whatever the case may be, think about what value system you are instilling in your

children and which of those values is of most importance to you.

Narrow Down Your List

Once you have your overall list, you can see that there are probably quite a few potential candidates for guardianship of your children.

Your task now is to narrow down your choices according to who best shares your value-system.

Most parents first think of who might have the finances to care for your children. But, instead, you want to think about which of your family and friends would raise your children with the values you care most about.

You want to also choose at least one back-up guardian, but ideally two. This way, as circumstances change in your loved ones lives, if the first or second guardian is unable or unwilling to serve as guardian, you still have another option as a trusted guardian for your children.

No matter how you slice it, choosing a guardian for you children can be an emotional process. But, having gone through this ourselves, we can assure you that once you have chosen a guardian, there is an immense sense of relief knowing you have someone in your life that can step in and care for your children should the need arise.

If you need additional guidance, please contact Hillary or Mike at The Vaillancourt Law Firm, LLC. We are happy to help protect your family.

Where We Stand

Fri, 05 Jun 2020 16:01:23 GMT

In our lives, we cannot recall a time where there seems to be so much division in the country. It is easy to choose to stay silent to avoid conflict and not alienate potential clients.

But, we want to be very clear that we care deeply for this country and believe that ALL who inhabit this country are entitled to the civil liberties and civil rights our forefathers and foremothers have fought so hard for.

We believe that color, race, creed, gender, immigration status, sexual orientation, etc. are no way to judge another human being.

And, we believe that civil disobedience is patriotic. Indeed, it is exactly what founded this nation of ours.

As an attorney, I took an oath to support the Constitution of the United States. Within the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are certain enumerated powers belonging to the citizens of this country. Among them is the right to peaceably assemble.

We support the many men and women of color and their allies who are fighting peacefully for equality and for justice in the wake of so many recent atrocities committed against people of color.

We hope that you will join us in trying to find ways to engage in meaningful dialogue about these issues and to bring about much needed change to ensure that the recent events leading to the protests do not happen again.

Hillary & Mike

Special Education Rights During Corona

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 16:00:46 GMT

WHAT ARE YOUR CHILD’S SPECIAL EDUCATION RIGHTS DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC?

By: Hillary D. Vaillancourt, Esq. The Vaillancourt Law Firm, LLC

During the coronavirus pandemic, there are so many things to worry about. Financial circumstances, staying healthy, and if you are the parent of a child with special needs, how to make sure your child is still making progress in their education.

As any parent of a child with special needs knows, there are no easy answers to special education. And, even when there are clear answers about what your child is entitled to, too often, parents of children with special needs must still spend energy, time, and sometimes money advocating for their child to receive the services to which they are entitled.

In these exceptional times, please know that The Vaillancourt Law Firm is here to help you help your child. Here is where special education rights stand right now. If you need further advice or have questions, please feel free to contact The Vaillancourt Law Firm directly .

WHAT WERE YOUR CHILD’S SPECIAL EDUCATION RIGHTS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC?

Before the pandemic, all children (whether homeschooled or not) were entitled to a free, appropriate, public education (FAPE). This FAPE must be conducted in the least restrictive environment (LRE), meaning children with special needs should generally be included in the general education setting despite having special needs.

This came about, because historically, children with special needs were excluded from the general classroom. However, it was believed that all children could learn better by integrating the classes.

The two main statutes that were implemented and are still the benchmark by which all special education circumstances are measured today are the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Each of these statutes has language guaranteeing a child with special needs the right to a FAPE.

The statutes also covers how children with special needs may access the services necessary for them to receive a FAPE. Under the IDEA, children with special needs may have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) to address what the child’s needs are and what services will be provided to meet those needs.

Under the ADA, children with special needs may have a 504 Plan. It is similar in that it addresses what the child’s needs are and what services are necessary to meet those needs, but differs from an IEP in a few key ways.

For example, a 504 Plan does not require parental input, progress monitoring, evaluations from the school, or specific, measurable goals.

HOW HAS THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC CHANGED YOUR CHILD’S SPECIAL EDUCATION RIGHTS?

Whether your child is receiving special education services under IDEA or ADA, it is important to note that at this time, neither of those statutes has been waived during the coronavirus pandemic.

This means that schools must still provide a FAPE to all students even though those schools are shuttered temporarily.

How that FAPE looks, however, may have more leeway now than what it was before schools were closed. Schools that prior to the pandemic would have to provide in-person services, are not necessarily required to do so now given the stay-home orders issued in many states. There may be some exceptions, and it’s important to look at each individual state’s stay-home orders and the exceptions to those orders.

However, the goals of students in special education must continue to be met.

WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF YOUR CHILD’S SPECIAL EDUCATION RIGHTS?

Admittedly, special education is in a tough spot for both families and schools. For many students, in-person services from aids and specialists is necessary for the student to make any real, measurable progress. However, with social distancing and stay-home orders, this has become difficult if not impossible in some states.

Yet, what are families supposed to do? Students still need services. It is critical now more than ever to continue advocating for your child.

This may mean joining social media support groups to share ideas, ask questions, and reach out for help.

This may mean consulting an attorney to intervene with the school.

This may mean lobbying government officials to create exceptions in the stay-home orders for service-providers to students with special needs.

In the recent coronavirus bill passed by Congress, there is a provision that allows Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos, the opportunity to request congressional approval to waive provisions in the IDEA. She has 30 days from the passage of the coronavirus bill to make recommendations about waiving special education rights.

It is nearly impossible to know what our students will be facing, but there is still work that we can do to protect them and their education.

If you are concerned about your child’s education during the coronavirus pandemic, please contact us today for a free consultation . We are here to help.

A Homeschooling Lawyer Mom

Thu, 26 Mar 2020 15:59:30 GMT

Like so many other parents, I find myself homeschooling during the Coronavirus outbreak. And, I had to ask myself, can I really be a homeschooling lawyer mom?

My two-year-old son has had a history of digestive and minor medical issues my husband and I believe are related to food allergies. Unfortunately, so far, we haven't been able to get any good answers as to what causes our son's discomfort.

Meanwhile there was a confirmed case of flu in my son's daycare class. We are all still recovering from a vicious stomach bug at the end of January. And, honestly? I don't think I could go through that ordeal again, at least not so soon and definitely not 5 months pregnant.

My son's daycare wasn't closed due to the Coronavirus, but my husband and I made the decision to withdraw my son to help pinpoint better his food issues and to keep all of us as healthy as possible.

While for many parents this is a temporary change, homeschooling my son is something I've been interested in for a long time. The recent circumstances pushed us into it sooner than I anticipated, however. But, for us, this will be a permanent change. Family first. Always.

In truth, I am so glad to have this time with my son. But, I'm equally anxious wondering how I'll find the time to accomplish what's needed for my clients, the time to spend with my husband, and the time to invest in myself, too.

Today, I learned I actually can find time for all of the above.

My son, cuddled next to me, was curious about the email I was typing to a client this morning. He kept trying to bang on the keyboard. At first, I panicked. Then, I started asking him for the next letter I needed. He found the letter, and I helped him press the key.

A while layer, I finally hit 'send.' My client email went out, my son practiced his letters, and I felt a massive sense of relief. Yes, I can be a homeschooling lawyer mom.

I'm excited to share my family's journey with you and hope you'll share your tips and tricks with us!

We'll be at the Canton, NY Kids' Expo March 14, 2020!

Sun, 23 Feb 2020 16:56:16 GMT

Come meet us at the Kids' Expo in Canton, NY on March 14, 2020. We will be offering 10% off all estate plans for anyone who signs up at the expo!