The Special Education Foundation’s Student Aid Funds for Emergencies (S.A.F.E.) is a critical program that has long supported students in times of urgent need. Formerly known as Critical Needs, the newly rebranded program continues its mission of providing immediate, essential assistance to students with disabilities when unexpected challenges threaten their well-being, stability, and ability to learn.
While the name has changed, the purpose remains the same—ensuring students have access to the basic resources they need to feel safe, supported, and ready to succeed in school. The S.A.F.E. program delivers fast, crisis-level financial assistance, helping remove barriers that can stand in the way of a student’s health, independence, and academic progress.
In partnership with the Special School District’s Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Department, SEF works to ensure no student goes without the essentials needed for dignity and success. Together, they provide a strong safety net for families facing difficult circumstances.
What S.A.F.E. Provides
S.A.F.E. supports urgent needs that cannot be met through insurance, community programs, or family resources. Assistance this year has included:
a foldable wheelchair
shoes
uniforms
prescriptions
diapers
personal hygiene supplies
187 food boxes over winter break and 139 food baskets in the spring for families facing food insecurity
The program also continues to support key initiatives that families and schools have relied on for years, including the Winter Coat Drive.
How to Access Support
To ensure we reach those with the greatest need, applications for S.A.F.E. are submitted by a school social worker, teacher, or administrator. Requests are carefully reviewed based on documented emergency need, financial hardship, and confirmation that all other community resources have been exhausted. Priority is given to situations where unmet needs could result in serious health risks, loss of independence, or disruption to a student’s education.
Through S.A.F.E., the Special Education Foundation remains committed to responding quickly and compassionately—helping students overcome barriers so they can focus on what matters most: learning, growing, and reaching their full potential.
