Behind the mic: Zero Reject host Anya Kamenetz on reporting a story that kept changing
November 13, 2026
Special education is a civil right, and right now it’s changing fast. Zero Reject, Understood.org’s investigative podcast about special education, breaks down what’s happening and what it means for kids and families. Host Anya Kamenetz, an award-winning education journalist, talks with parents, educators, advocates, and policymakers across the country. We asked Anya how she found these stories and what she hopes listeners do next.
You covered education for years, including at NPR. Why focus on special education now?
First, because special education is a civil right enforced by federal law. That means students with disabilities are affected more directly than others by recent changes to the Department of Education.
Second, because I’ve always been fascinated by the many stories I’ve come across over the years of families standing up fiercely for their kids.
The series features parents, educators, advocates, and policymakers. Can you walk us through how you found them and how you shaped their stories into the final episodes?
Understood was willing to give me the time I needed to do really rich research. I reached out to advocates and experts in all 50 states and did dozens of background interviews, which really helped me ground my observations and understand variations around the country. We found some of the families through callouts on social media. And Allison, the mom in Episode 2, who has a pending federal complaint that got lost when cuts were made to the Office for Civil Rights? I found her by Googling, “What happened to my OCR complaint?”
The Department of Education began shifting special education oversight in June, and so much has happened since. What was it like reporting on a story that kept changing while you were making it?
It was stressful at times! We waited as long as we could to wrap the newsy parts of the episodes. But we kept our focus on explaining what would matter to families on the ground.
Is there a moment from making the series that you still think about?
The one I always end up telling people about comes from Episode 4, “The Chimichanga Solution,” when I ask 13-year-old McKay to read out loud to me. He has dyslexia and has gained so much in skills and confidence since being moved to the right setting for him.
Was there a story you wanted to tell but couldn’t fit it in, or that you couldn’t get?
Yes! I talked to a doctor who served as an expert witness against DC Public Schools in special education due process hearings more than 100 times. They got tired of losing, so they hired him! He helped to improve special education in the district in lots of different ways.
What did making this series teach you, both as a parent and as a reporter?
As a parent, I actually ended up switching my younger kid into a different school that was a better fit, in part because I realized there was no shame in advocating for my kids and I didn’t need to settle.
As a reporter, I gained so much knowledge of and respect for the alliance of family members and people with disabilities, many of whom are marginalized in other ways, all working to advance civil rights in this country in spite of the many obstacles.
What do you hope parents do after they listen to Zero Reject?
Send it to a friend, maybe one without experience in the world of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and 504 plans, so they can understand why this stuff is important.
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