What LD College Applicants Need to Know About Trump’s Education Department Cuts

How Education Department cuts will impact LD and neurodiverse college applicants

Since January, the Trump administration has slashed staffing levels at the Department of Education by nearly half.  That includes eliminating seven of the 12 regional Office for Civil Rights locations across the country. What does all this mean for learning disabled and neurodiverse college applicants?

In the past, learning disabled and neurodiverse college students could appeal to the OCR (Office of Civil Rights) if they did not receive the accommodations legally afforded them at college. But because of the cuts to the Department of Education and the closing of OCR locations, if a college student chooses to appeal a denial, that student may have to wait a significant amount of time for an appeal to be processed.

And then there’s the question of how LD and neurodiverse college applicants can best strategize their application essays. Given the administration’s changes to the Department of Education, what is the best way of representing yourself in your Common App essay? Should you acknowledge your learning disabilities or neurodiversity? If so, how?

These are difficult questions and LD and neurodiverse college applicants need to think about them carefully before submitting their college applications.

As readers of my blog know, due to demand, WCP has not been able to accept new clients in 2025. But given the breathtaking changes we are seeing in education, Dr. Osborn is making herself available to a limited number of college applicants who are interested in two, hour-long college consultations. If you are interested in booking a two-hour college consultation with Dr. Osborn, click here.

Dr. Osborn works with students from all over the world via Skype, Zoom, FaceTime, phone, and Google docs to help them reach their independent, college, and graduate school goals. Through a personal, one-on-one approach, Dr. Osborn creates an individualized curriculum for each student based on the student’s strengths, passions, and college aspirations. Her holistic approach helps students perform well in school and win admission to the Ivy League and other competitive colleges.  

Your approach was so comprehensive, well-structured and delivered so masterfully, that we’d never be able to fit all we loved about working with you in one email. The process of developing the story, voice, etc., for the Common App essay was just amazing and even therapeutic for Ari. Your knowledge, experience, sense of humor, personal attitude, charisma resulted in powerful essays, and with Ari feeling better about how he is as a student and a person. Thank you!

Eugene K., Irvington, NJ

 I cannot thank you enough for how well you supported and prepared Nathan. Despite his ADHD, he got in everywhere he applied and all the schools offered excellent merit aid. He’s also received another independent scholarship which he tells me involved remixes of the writing you did together and more are pending. Thank you! Please know I am happy to give you the best recommendation to other parents. Having you as part of our team through this process was priceless!

Carolyn B., Hopewell, NJ

Your approach was a breath of fresh air. Helping Vivek write his story with humor and empathy, and with lots of encouragement brought out the best from him; after working with you, he ended up being a more confident and positive person, and a proud member of Cornell’s Class of 2025! Thank you!

Suparna S., South Lake, TX