Featured Podcast citizensschool Aug 8, 2025

DisruptEd Episode 7 with Rana Akkad

Welcome to the seventh episode of DisruptEd, offering a look into the future of education, in conversations with experts discussing research and real-world applications. The podcast, produced by Citizens School explores how breakthroughs in learning and teaching are shaping the way we prepare learners for the future.

DisruptEd is hosted by Dr. Adil Alzarooni, a serial entrepreneur, lifelong learner, and founder of Citizens School.

In this episode, Dr. Adil speaks with Rana Akkad, Founder of Jad’s Inclusion. In a powerful conversation about the unseen challenges families of children with special needs face daily — from navigating diagnoses to everyday outings. Rana questions the assumption that mainstreaming equals inclusion, sharing the reality that without personalised support, “sometimes it’s just the most expensive lunchbox.” True inclusion, she explains, requires trained mentors, Individualised Education Plans (IEPs), and environments where every child can meaningfully participate — even if only for a few hours a day.