KidStrong Celebrated Sign Language. My Speech-Delayed Three-Year-Old Was Told He Might Not Be a Fit.

In September 2026, KidStrong and Learn How to Sign celebrated a partnership bringing American Sign Language into children's programming. It was a positive initiative and a strong public-relations opportunity. But just one month earlier, my three-year-old son, who has a speech delay and an IEP, attended a KidStrong trial class where a coach questioned whether he was a good fit. By October, there had been no meaningful conversation about his potential enrollment. This experience raises a broader question: What does inclusion mean when a company's public messaging doesn't align with a family's experience?