Unlocking Michigan’s talent: Why language support must replace labels

By: Megan Syed

Outlets: Michigan Advance

Published: March 27, 2026

Words: 665

Last Updated: 4 months ago

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As a child, Nora told me, she was immediately mislabeled as a special education student simply because she hadn’t yet learned English—a mistake her parents, trusting the system, didn’t feel comfortable questioning. Nora was classified as cognitively impaired, a label that followed her for years and placed her into separate classrooms, where she often felt embarrassed, isolated, and confused. These days, Nora makes sandwiches in a deli, but she often wonders how her life might …

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