Mislabeled as disabled : the educational abuse of struggling learners and how we can fight it

This book, described by reviewers as “shocking” and “a masterpiece,” exposes the tragic tale of the millions of schoolchildren who are never taught basic skills in reading, writing, and math. With heart-wrenching stories of individual children from his own experience as an advocate and ground-breaking policy researcher, Kalman “Buzzy” Hettleman documents what can only be labeled educational abuse. It may be unintentional, but it is gross negligence because we know how to prevent it, yet fail do it. Many of the victims are “Mislabeled as Disabled.” Denied proper instruction, they fall behind in regular general education, overwhelm teachers, and hold back classmates. Out of desperation, school systems unlawfully “dump” such "Mislabeled as Disabled" students in special education, even though they do not have a true medical disability. Yet, unlike students with severe limitations who are “Truly Disabled,” the special education they receive is hardly special at all. They fall farther behind and suffer stigma and segregation. Moreover, school systems cover up this educational malpractice with misleading progress reports and data. The fact that a disproportionate number of “Mislabeled as Disabled” students are from poor and minority families is no excuse. Hettleman not only cites in detail the better instruction that will enable them to succeed; he spells out the kind of legislative and judicial civil right to learn to read that is required for reform. Hettleman also perceptively reveals how teachers, like children, are victimized by educational abuse. Dedicated frontline teachers are denied the instructional tools—the training, class sizes, and curricula—with which they can get the job done right. He concludes with a call to action by all of us. Parents, educators, policymakers, and entire communities should read this book, become enraged, and then take up the struggle for reform. Kalman R. "Buzzy" Hettleman exposes the tragic tale of the millions of schoolchildren who are "Mislabeled as Disabled" and dumped into special education where they never fully learn basic skills in reading, writing, and math. The majority of these students are not disabled in any medical or other clinical sense. Rather, in violation of federal law, they fail to receive proper instruction and fall farther behind, suffering stigma and segregation. With heart-wrenching stories of individual children from his own experience as an advocate and ground-breaking policy researcher, Hettleman documents what can only be labeled educational abuse. Hettleman also reveals how teachers are undervalued heroes denied the teaching tools to do the job right and, like students, are victimized by the system. He not only cites in detail the better instruction that will enable students and teachers to succeed; he spells out the legislative and judicial civil rights that cry out for reform. This book is a call to everyone to become enraged, and then engaged in the struggle for reform. - inside front cover