Introducing “Zero Reject: The Uncertain Future of Special Education”

Every year, millions of families fight to get their kids the special education services they’re legally owed. And right now, changes under the Trump administration are making that fight even harder. Find out what those changes mean on Zero Reject, a new investigative podcast from Understood.org, hosted by award-winning journalist Anya Kamenetz. 

Over six episodes, Anya follows real families navigating IEPs, evaluations, and federal complaints. She also traces the policies shaping who gets protected and who doesn’t. Meet a civil rights attorney caught in a wave of federal layoffs, a mom whose complaint disappeared into a 25,000-case backlog, and families finding creative ways to make the system work better despite it all. Zero Reject digs into what’s really happening in special education — and what’s at stake for the millions of kids who depend on it. New episodes drop weekly starting September 29. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

For more on this topic

• Listen: What you need to know about federal funding for special education 
• Read: News to know 
• Watch: Trump administration splits special education oversight between HHS and DOJ 

For a transcript and more resources, visit Zero Reject on Understood.org. You can also email us at podcast@understood.org.

Understood is a nonprofit where millions of people who are navigating neurodivergence find clear guidance, practical tools, and people who get it. To help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give.

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