Opportunity Gap: For Families Navigating Special Education

Parents play a big role in continuing a child’s learning journey outside of the classroom. These opportunities for learning are often called teachable moments. And they can happen anywhere from the grocery store to even at the park. Listen as Julian explains what teachable moments are. And how they help kids build important life skills. Then get tips on how to create these moments at home. Visit t...

Early intervention refers to services that help kids from birth to age three with developmental delays. But what services are available after kids turn 3? The answer: preschool services.  In this episode, we welcome Elisa Lundy. Elisa is a special education teacher who works in preschool classrooms in the New York City area. Listen as she: Explains the similarities between preschool services and e...

When a child qualifies for an IEP, one of the first things schools give parents is a packet. In that packet is information that breaks down the legal rights parents and kids have during the special education process.   The packet can be really long and filled with lots of terms that can be confusing. Still, it’s important for parents to understand these terms.   Listen as host Juliana Urtubey brea...

The IEP process can leave English language learners and their families with lots of questions. But the more families know about the purpose of IEPs, the more involved they can be in getting their child the best support. In this episode, we speak with Juliana Urtubey. Juliana is a special education teacher. She was named the 2021 National Teacher of the Year. Listen as Juliana explains: Challenges...

Teachers play a huge role in shaping the future of their students. And they often wear many hats in the classroom to provide the best learning experience for kids. Especially kids with learning and thinking differences.  In this episode, we speak with Kareem Neal, MA. Kareem is a special education teacher in Phoenix, Arizona. And he’s been teaching for more than 25 years. Listen as Kareem gives a...

Michelle Carter believes sports can be a big help for kids with learning differences. She's an athlete and a businessperson. And track and field was a game-changer for her ADHD and dyslexia.   In this episode, listen as Michelle talks about the challenges she faced in the classroom and on the field. How she discovered her talents in track and field. And then learn how she's helping kids build conf...

ADHD has gotten a lot of attention on social media lately. From videos about personal experiences to experts sharing tips, some posts hold truth, but many are misleading.     In this episode of The Opportunity Gap , we take a closer look at the influence social media has on toxic myths about ADHD. Listen as Dr. Kristin Carothers, a clinical psychologist, explains: The dangers of myths and misinfor...

René Brooks was diagnosed with ADHD twice during her childhood. But stigma and shame kept her family from learning more and getting her the right support. So when she was diagnosed with ADHD for a third time at age 25, she decided to take control of her own journey.  In this episode, René unpacks her experiences growing up with ADHD. Listen as she explains:   The impact of delayed intervention Wha...

It’s common for parents to wonder how the IEP process works and how to best advocate for their child’s needs. The truth is, the more parents know about IEPs and how they’re put into place, the more active a role they can take in the process. In this episode, Julian speaks with IEP expert Jamilah F. Bashir, MEd. Listen as Jamilah explains:   What the IEP process looks like Common challenges familie...

If your child is struggling at school or at home, you may be wondering whether or not it’s related to a learning difference. Talking with your child’s pediatrician can be a good first step to getting support. But how do you start the talk?   Listen as behavioral pediatrician Dr. Nerissa Bauer visits our friends at In It and gives tips for talking with your child’s pediatrician about learning diffe...

In celebration of Black History Month, Julian highlights four members of the Understood team:   Berman Fenelus, Senior Content Producer Livingston Steele, Social Media Manager Misha Williams, Grants and Relationships Manager Deb Wilson, Chief People & Culture Officer Each of them is making an impact in the lives of people with learning and thinking differences, from silencing shame and stigma to p...

For kids with learning and thinking differences, preparing for life after high school is often met with many emotions and questions.  “What’s next for me?” “Will I have the same accommodations?” “Will I be successful in my studies?”   In this episode, Julian talks with Sudi Shayesteh. Sudi is the director of the Office of AccessABILITY at Hunter College. Learn about the challenges students face wh...

Some kids love talking about school. But some don’t— especially when something is upsetting them, like bullying or struggling with a specific subject. If your child is a bit quiet about how things are going in school, there are ways to encourage them to open up more.   In this episode, learn some key things to keep in mind. Listen as host Julian Saavedra explains:   Ways to ask kids open-ended que...

The school-to-prison pipeline has been hidden in the shadows of our educational systems for way too long. It’s a series of policies that have targeted kids of color, pulling them out of schools and into the legal system. And now, more than ever, it requires our fight to end. Listen as Malhar Shah, an education attorney at the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund explains:   The school-to-p...

Tantrums and meltdowns are challenges all parents face. But for families of kids who learn and think differently, they can be even more of a struggle. Listen as Dr. Andrew Kahn gives expert advice on how to deal with tantrums and meltdowns with our friends at the In It podcast. Learn how practicing strategies ahead of time can help you manage outbursts in the moment.  And find out what calming tec...

The holidays can be the most wonderful time of the year. But they can also be the most stressful for families with kids who learn differently. That’s because, for some, the holidays mean telling relatives about their child’s learning differences for the very first time.   Sometimes, this talk goes smoothly — other times, there are a few bumps in the road. In this episode, listen as Julian explains...

Wondering how to make the most of parent-teacher conferences? Planning ahead can help you walk into the next meeting with confidence. In this episode from our friends at In It , get advice on how to prepare for parent-teacher conferences from DeJunne’ Clark Jackson. Hear how DeJunne’ prepares herself — and her kids — for parent-teacher conferences. Plus, get tips on how to help your child talk wit...

Some teachers, despite their best efforts, bring their own biases into the classroom. And their beliefs impact how they interact with students and their families in a major way.   Racial bias in education is a common experience — and it shouldn’t be. In this episode, we address a pressing issue with guest Afrika Afeni Mills, MEd. Listen as Afrika explains: How racial bias can influence relationshi...

The signs of dyslexia are often overlooked. And there’s so much parents of kids of color can do to advocate for the right support for this learning difference. Our guest is Dyslexia Mom Boss host Lauren McClenney-Rosenstein, EdD. Listen as Dr. Lauren explains: Her own personal experience with learning and thinking differences What parents need to know about Orton-Gillingham Ways parents and school...

Bonus episode! Introducing Understood’s newest podcast: What Now? A Parent’s Guide . Tune in for a peek at Season 1, which is all about tantrums and meltdowns. We’re sharing Episode 6, “Identifying your child’s behavior triggers.”  Listen to host Dr. Andrew Kahn as he explains how to find your child’s behavior triggers to prevent tantrums and meltdowns.   Get a transcript of this show and check ou...

Learning disabilities are real challenges that are not related to intelligence. They impact millions of kids and adults in the United States. And people who have them are not at all “lazy.”   Learning disabilities are caused by differences in the brain. And they often are hereditary. These challenges can impact people at school, at work, and in everyday life. But the good news is there are strateg...

We recorded this episode in Spanish, in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.  Los padres suelen tener muchas preguntas referentes a la educación especial. En el proceso de entender y aprender de qué se trata, se topan con términos y una jerga con los que no están familiarizados. Ante esto, cualquiera se podría sentir abrumado. Pero las dificultades pueden ser aún mayores para muchas familias hi...

English language learners bring unique perspectives to the classroom. And their diverse backgrounds and experiences often impact how they learn. So, it’s important for teachers to take the time to learn about their strengths and challenges.   Learning a new language is hard work. And multilingual students are often learning how to read, write, and do math in that new language all at the same time....

When kids with learning and thinking differences have positive self-esteem, they feel more confident. They try their best. They value themselves. And they’re proud of the things they can do. Kids with learning differences develop positive self-esteem by working hard toward a goal — and then seeing their hard work pay off. But failure builds confidence in kids too. In this episode of The Opportunit...

How do you discipline kids who have trouble with the skills they need to behave? What strategies work best for kids with learning differences?   Many parents struggle with how to discipline their kids. And for families of kids with ADHD or learning differences, it can be even harder to know what to do. Get discipline tips from clinical psychologist Dr. Kristin Carothers in this episode of In It ,...