Families across the country are confronting a stark reality: some individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities face systemic barriers that delay—or entirely prevent—their access to education. While one person was excluded from traditional schooling until high school, another was barred from enrollment for nearly two decades, highlighting deep inequities in how schools accommodate students with diverse needs. Advocates argue these cases reflect broader failures in policy and practice, leaving vulnerable learners without the support they require to thrive. The experiences underscore ongoing debates about inclusion, funding, and the moral obligation of education systems to serve all children.
Susan Popkin has a brother-in-law who was kept out of traditional education until high school. David Bateman has a brother-in-law who couldn’t enroll for the first 17 years of his life. These stories ...
