I have never remotely stated ALL kids in special ed are incapable of learning.  You said that. Not me. I said it is an insult to intelligence to claim special ed is a human right and civil rights issue. The special education the author is referring to is the mentally handicapped. they are incapable of learning an education as I have worked with many of them. Not to be confused with the special ed called "alternative education." If a child is capable of learning they go to AE.