From kindergarten through sixth grade, I was placed in a special education program due to my autism and ADHD. Rather than receiving tailored support, I found myself stuck in a system that did little to accommodate my learning style. Instead of engaging with materials suited to my needs, I was stuck relearning basic concepts while my general education peers advanced. Special education did not help me thrive — it held me back.

My experience is not unique. The Center for American Progress reports that students with disabilities are significantly less likely to graduate high school or achieve proficiency in core subjects compared to their peers. The failure of the special education system is systemic and demands radical reform.

First, special education students should not be segregated. Isolation from general education peers stunts social development and reinforces harmful stigmas. Studies show that inclusive classrooms benefit all students, improving academic and social outcomes for those with disabilities.

Second, education must be personalized. A one-size-fits-all approach in special education leaves many students without the support they truly need. At the neurodiversity-affirming high school I attended, each student received individualized learning plans, allowing me to advance from a fourth-grade reading level in middle school to becoming an undergraduate at UC Berkeley.

Third, students and families must have autonomy over their education. The Self-Determination Program in California empowers neurodivergent students to choose the services they receive. Expanding such programs nationwide would reduce barriers to necessary resources and allow students to thrive.

Special education should uplift students, not hinder them. Reform is long overdue, and integration, personalization, and self-determination must be at its core.

David Rivera is an autistic undergraduate at UC Berkeley, studying political science. He is also the president and founder of Mentoring Autistic Minds, a California-based nonprofit that aims for a neurodiversity-affirming country through mentoring and education.