Episode 481: The Hidden Toll of Gated Learning

Today’s episode explores the emotional and structural barriers faced by an educator when navigating a shifting professional credentialing landscape. Although the author of the source article, Dr. Jaime Hoerricks, remains legally qualified to teach, new administrative policies have reclassified their existing skills as additional requirements, forcing a choice between absorbing harm or forgoing further training. This “gated learning” is criticised for its sharp hypocrisy, as programs that preach inclusivity often fail to accommodate the physical and neurological needs of the adult learners they serve. Dr. Hoerricks’ decision to decline these courses is framed not as a rejection of professional growth, but as a necessary refusal to compromise their well-being for a redundant certification. Ultimately, the narrative highlights how cumulative systemic obstacles create a quiet form of exclusion that limits future opportunities without ever being officially recorded. This creates a lasting sense of grief and frustration for those who are technically invited to participate but practically barred by the design of the system.


Here’s the link to the source article: https://open.substack.com/pub/autside... (https://open.substack.com/pub/autside...)


Let me know what you think.





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