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Inclusion|Equity|Opportunity

OSERS is committed to the broad values of Inclusion, Equity and Opportunity for infants, toddlers, children, youth and adults with disabilities to actively participate in all aspects of life. OSERS promotes inclusion, ensures equity and creates opportunity as we strive to improve results and outcomes for children and adults with disabilities.

Mission

In implementing this mission, OSERS supports programs that help educate children and youth with disabilities, provides for the rehabilitation of youth and adults with disabilities and supports research to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities.

Responsibilities

The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) is committed to improving results and outcomes for people with disabilities of all ages. OSERS provides a wide array of supports to parents and individuals, school districts and states in three main areas: special education, vocational rehabilitation and research.

By providing funding to programs that serve infants, toddlers, children and adults with disabilities, OSERS works to ensure that these individuals are fully included in school, in employment, in life. OSERS also provides funds to programs that offer information and technical assistance to parents of infants, toddlers and children with disabilities, as well as members of the learning community who serve these individuals.

Through identifying what works based on the best available science and research, providing guidelines for early identification and intervention in schools, and fostering integrative employment opportunities and independent living, OSERS is at the forefront of guiding policy designed to improve results and outcomes for persons with disabilities in the United States and throughout the world.

OSERS is committed to working with internal and external partners in ensuring that every individual with a disability maximizes their potential to participate in school, work, and community life. Recognizing our legacy of accomplishment, OSERS understands the many challenges still facing individuals with disabilities and their families. We are dedicated to identifying and using what works and collaborating with the scientific community to conduct and disseminate the highest quality research in areas where more knowledge is needed.

As evidence of our ongoing efforts to serve, we would like to welcome you to our site. We hope that you will feel at home to explore and locate resources that support persons with disabilities, their families and the service providers who work with these individuals. We welcome your feedback as we strive to continuously improve all of our programs and services.