Publication Date: May 6, 2025
Over 7 million students ages 3–21 across the United States receive special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Amy Mackin’s son, Henry, is one of them. As she navigates the medical, social, and educational systems that are designed to help families like hers, she discovers that staffing shortages, budget restrictions, ineffective communication practices, and a resistance to innovative ideas all threaten her son’s ability to reach his full potential. Henry’s Classroom takes readers on Amy’s often frustrating, sometimes funny journey with her son—from the initial signs of a developmental delay, through early intervention, eventual diagnosis, and Henry’s challenges within the public education system—until they finally turn away from traditional structures and create something new instead. As much a work of cultural criticism as it is a memoir, Henry’s Classroom argues that an expanded, more flexible vision of American schools and workplaces is essential for our society to realize true equity and inclusion.
Having a child with a developmental delay means parents must step into the role of advocate.
Author Amy Mackin details her experiences in a memoir titled Henry’s Classroom. She describes it as a special education in American motherhood. To navigate the challenges, she and her husband require a crash course in the public education system, the medical community, and cultural patterns.
She organizes the story around a series of 23 lessons, all of which walk readers through a chronological look at Henry’s early diagnosis and the struggle for appropriate resources. Each lesson is also supported by various resources listed in the bibliography.
Her writing is raw and gritty in places, light and humorous in others. The emotional impact is evident, which will draw readers with similar experiences.
Henry’s Classroom highlights a mother’s efforts to advocate for her special needs child.
Amy Mackin writes at the intersection of education, cultural history, public health, and social equity. Her work has appeared in outlets such as The Atlantic, Chalkbeat, The Washington Post, Witness, and The Shriver Report. Over the last several years, she has held leadership writing roles in the public health, science, and higher education sectors. Amy loves the fickle weather and spectacular landscapes of New England, where she resides with her family and always at least one friendly feline.
