Parents, students and City Council members confronted the Department of Education on issues facing students with disabilities in New York City schools.

Tanesha Grant was one of the parents upset with remote and hybrid learning for special-needs children. She spoke at a City Council hearing on Friday.

"I am the grandmother of a 4-year-old autistic nonverbal grandson who got no services when this happened," she says.

Councilman Mark Treyger says that this school year has been difficult for all students, but especially for the over 200,000 students with special needs.

He says, "COVID has shone a bright light on the inequities we already knew existed, and will only worsen the academic achievements of students with disabilities."

Students themselves also shared at the meeting the issues they are facing, such as transportation to and from school.

Many families said they never received the devices assigned to them through their Individualized Education Program. IEPs are plans for students with special needs to receive support services. However, parents say students aren't getting what they need in hybrid or remote learning.

Council members asked the DOE for attendance, teacher shortages and device data — though few numbers were actually shared at this hearing

The DOE promised to have more data available to City Council members as soon as possible.