Diverse Thinking Different Learning

We know that exercise does have a positive impact on the brain. We know that exercise can optimize brain function and prevent cognitive decline in adults. But what can it do for children and adolescents that learn and think differently? Today's guest is Dr. John Ratey, an internationally recognized expert in neuropsychiatry. Dr. Ratey became interested in the science of exercise and the brain earl...

Welcome to the new year of Diverse Thinking Different Learning! We're setting the stage for a great year of celebrating neurodiversity and recognizing it as a spectrum that encompasses a range of differences. Our goal is to highlight the strengths and unique qualities of neurodivergent individuals while also challenging stigmas and stereotypes. In this quick episode, you'll learn five quick tips f...

Many parents, particularly moms, feel like taking care of your health and well-being only comes after your family's needs are met. That essentially means that there's no time left for any form of self-care. But today's guest discusses how we can take better care of ourselves and in doing so, take better care of the ones we love. Leslie Forde is the CEO and Founder of Mom's Hierarchy of Needs®. Her...

Let's revisit one of our favorite Diverse Thinking Different Learning Podcast episodes with Dr. Bibi Pirayesh. Dr. Bibi Pirayesh is a Learning Specialist and an Educational Therapist who has been in private practice for over a decade. While the emphasis of Dr. Pirayesh's work is on remediating learning disabilities in a one-on-one setting, she is also a sought after speaker and community advocate...

It's time to spend some time with family for the holidays and now is a great time to look back at some of the earliest episodes of Diverse Thinking Different Learning. Today, we're revisiting our conversation with Dr. Daniel Franklin. What is a Language-Based Learning Disability and when should we as parents be concerned? Well, let's ask an expert! Today my guest is Dr. Daniel Franklin, the founde...

The IEP process is notoriously daunting, overwhelming, and can be confusing to parents. However, parents have the right to be active participants in all aspects of an IEP. There's more that parents can do to be a part of their child's education and successfully advocate for the support they need in the classroom. Today's guest is April Rehrig, the founder of Rise Educational Advocacy and Consultin...

In her raw and emotional book Hold On Tight: A Parent's Journey Raising Children with Mental Illness , Jan Stewart shares her deeply personal experience as a mother of two children with wildly different needs. Through the challenges of finding the right diagnoses and treatments, Jan learned to insist on an integrated partnership approach, leading her to then support other parents facing similar st...

Today, we're answering the question, "Can play therapy help my child?" But first, we need to understand what play therapy is and what it is not. Our guest, Cathi Spooner shares insights on helping children navigate complex emotions through play therapy. And there's a lot to talk about! We've had several episodes discussing different treatment modalities and information about ways we can provide so...

Research shows that individuals with learning and thinking differences are at higher risk for substance abuse. It is also known that there is a connection between mental health problems, like depression and anxiety, and substance abuse. But now that we know that, what do we do about it? Today's guests support neurodiverse youth and help with substance use and abuse concerns. Eric Rydzewski and Chr...

Today's topic is no stranger to the Diverse Thinking Different Learning Podcast. We're talking about sleep, but this time, we're discussing the impact of sleep (and lack thereof) on teens. Lisa Lewis explains it all beautifully in her book The Sleep-Deprived Teen: Why Our Teenagers Are So Tired, and How Parents and Schools Can Help Them Thrive . And in our conversation today, she shares some inter...

Parents frequently find themselves searching for the perfect educational environment for their child. And when you have a child who thinks and learns differently, you may also look for an environment where your child has access to interventions that address their unique needs, a program that incorporates clinical support, helps your child develop social-emotional learning and adaptive functioning...

Although today's guest is a declutter coach and has been featured as a guest on the podcast before, she's here for a completely different reason today. Today, Wendy Zanders is here in her role as a mom who homeschools. This episode is a down-to-earth and realistic conversation about the popular topic of homeschooling. Wendy shares her journey, the ups and downs, the reasons behind her family's dec...

With a new dyslexia screening law coming into effect next year in the state of California, parents need to know what to expect and what the rights of their children are. To help educate us on what this screener is and what it means for our children, educational attorneys Vickie Brett and Amanda Selogie join the podcast again. Vickie and Amanda are both attorneys and founders of the Inclusive Educa...

If you have a teen who is preparing for or thinking about applying to college, you are likely aware that some colleges and universities are test optional or even test blind when it comes to ACTs and SATs. But what does that mean? Should students with learning differences, test anxiety, or struggles with test-taking in general take these tests? Annika Guy is the Director of Independent Study/Homesc...

Educational therapy is oftentimes an unknown term for parents and families. Today's guest has actually shared with us in a previous episode what it is and how it can benefit so many different students in Episode 10: Building Independence Through Educational Therapy . But what we haven't talked about is what educational therapy looks like… virtually. Welcome back to Rachel Kapp, who is an education...

Today's guest is Ashley Harding and we're discussing the importance of students having a sense of belonging in their learning environment. Ashley is a valued member of the ChildNEXUS community and a compassionate advocate for diverse learners. In this episode, Ashley explains how impactful a sense of belonging is to a student. Knowing they hold a significant space somewhere, feeling a sense of con...

Over the last few years, we've seen a noticeable increase in anxiety and anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. And we've talked about anxiety many times on the Diverse Thinking Different Learning Podcast. But one thing we haven't discussed yet is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder or OCD. This is a topic that has been requested by listeners and I'm thrilled to have found today's guest, Dr. Jes...

Today we are welcoming back parenting activist and previous podcast guest, Debbie Reber. Debbie and I have had the opportunity to speak on multiple occasions and her support for parents of differently wired kids is extraordinary. As the founder and CEO of Tilt Parenting, Debbie has provided resources to parents around the world and uses her own experiences as a parent of a neurodivergent child to...

Many parents see themselves in their children. And when a child is evaluated and diagnosed with ADHD, some parents realize that they have had the same struggles. Research shows that as many as 1 in 5 people have ADHD and because we know that the heritability of ADHD is about 80%, the odds that many adults are struggling with undiagnosed ADHD are high. With this realization, many parents are receiv...

In her book, The Hidden Link Between Vision and Learning, Wendy Beth Rosen cited a study by Ohio State University. That research study found that 69% of students with IEPs identified as having treatable vision problems, yet would pass a typical school screening. Most people only associate vision with eyesight, but today's guest explains that there is so much more to the visual system and even a ch...

Lately, we've been focusing on preparing students who think and learn differently for a transition back to school. But today's topic is an interesting and often overlooked aspect of mental health - nutrition. Studies show that what we eat can significantly impact our mental wellbeing. The same is true for children and teens and we can help support their mental health through their diet.   Show Not...

As we get started and accustomed to a new academic year for students, we need to take a moment to talk about sleep. How much sleep do children and adolescents actually need? What are signs that they are getting quality sleep or insufficient sleep? Many adults track their own sleep, but are you monitoring your child's? When children and adolescents don't get enough sleep it impacts their ability to...

A new school year is upon us! This can be an exciting time but it can also be challenging for parents and their children especially for those who think and learn differently. This quick episode is designed to help ensure a smooth start for these students and their families. These five tips can help navigate this period successfully. It's not an exhaustive list, just a few tips to get the ball roll...

For many families, it is hard to hear that your child has been struggling in school. Some parents may already know or have a feeling their child is struggling.  They have even received assessment results, only to feel worried about the negative stigma or sharing that information with their school. Today, we are re-airing a discussion about the importance of collaboration between parents, families,...

Are you concerned about whether your child has made meaningful progress over the last year in school? Today's guest is an incredible special education attorney who is passionate about advocating for children and adults. You can hear the passion in her voice throughout this entire episode and she brings to light a lot of concerns as we begin the transition to heading back to the brick and mortar cl...