PORTLAND, Ore. — A federal decision to revoke funding has left a critical program serving Oregon’s most medically vulnerable children scrambling to secure support. The Trump administration abruptly canceled a five-year, $650,000 grant for the Oregon DeafBlind Project, citing concerns tied to an unrelated Portland Public Schools initiative.
Grant Terminated Early
The Oregon DeafBlind Project, which serves approximately 110 children statewide, learned of the cancellation in an Aug. 27 notice from federal officials. The grant was originally approved as a five-year award but was cut off after just two years.
Project director Lisa McConachie said the decision came as a shock. “We were blindsided,” she explained, adding that the funding was essential to sustaining services for students with both vision and hearing impairments.
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Link to PPS Initiative
The notification tied the cancellation not to the program’s work but to its fiscal agent, Portland Public Schools (PPS). The district recently announced plans to open a Center for Black Student Excellence, a separate initiative focused on improving outcomes for Black students.
Federal officials argued that PPS’s involvement created a conflict, though advocates say the projects have no overlap. “It is extremely troubling that a program dedicated to supporting children with profound disabilities is being penalized for unrelated policy decisions,” McConachie said.
Impact on Students and Families
The Oregon DeafBlind Project provides specialized training, technical assistance, and family support. It helps educators and caregivers adapt communication strategies, classroom environments, and technology for students who are both deaf and blind.
For families, the loss of federal dollars raises fears about losing critical services. Many of the children the program serves also face complex medical needs, making continuity of care essential.
“This program is often the difference between isolation and access for our kids,” one parent said. “Without it, we are left to navigate impossible challenges alone.”
Broader Context
The decision comes amid broader debates about federal education funding under the Trump administration, with critics accusing officials of allowing politics to interfere with programs for vulnerable populations.
Oregon leaders have pledged to explore alternative funding sources, but the immediate future of the program remains uncertain. State officials noted that finding replacement dollars will not be easy, given the program’s specialized scope and the scale of federal support that was lost.
Searching for Solutions
Advocates are now urging both state lawmakers and Oregon’s congressional delegation to intervene. They argue that restoring funding—or identifying new streams of support—must be a priority to ensure children with multiple disabilities are not left behind.
“The work we do is about equity and access for the most underserved students in Oregon,” McConachie said. “Ending this grant threatens to unravel years of progress.”
