Difference Is Not Deficit: A Community Vision for Special Education

In this urgent and inspiring call to action, Dr. Bibi Pirayesh invites educators to radically reimagine how we support neurodiverse students―not as problems to solve, but as people with insight, strength, and agency.

Rooted in principles of social justice, trauma-informed practice, and universal design for learning, Difference Is Not Deficit offers a flexible, thoughtful framework for teachers, counselors, and school leaders ready to challenge ableist and colonialist legacies in education. Drawing on powerful real-life stories from her work with students, Bibi demonstrates how we can build inclusive, liberatory learning environments that work for all students―not just those who “fit the mold.”

This is not a how-to guide. It’s a lens―a way of seeing and understanding the barriers baked into our educational systems, and a call to act with care, courage, and conviction.

In this book, you’ll find:

• A decolonizing vision for special education grounded in student experience

• Insight into the lived realities of students with 504s/IEPs

• Guidance for navigating systemic overwhelm with clarity and compassion

• Support for educators seeking to apply accessibility principles in real-world settings

At a time when debates about what schools should be are louder than ever, Bibi speaks with clarity and conviction about what they can be.  This book is for you if you’re an educator who knows the system isn’t working and wants to be part of the solution.