Opportunity Gap: For Families Navigating Special Education

Many kids with learning challenges love summer vacation — and their parents do, too. It’s a nice long break from studying, homework, and the classroom. And it can leave kids feeling relaxed and better equipped to learn once fall arrives. But when kids press “pause” on learning altogether, they may lose some of what they’ve learned throughout the year and experience the “summer slide.”  In this epi...

It’s becoming more common for kids and their parents to open up and share their struggles with mental health. But this openness isn’t always welcomed in communities of color.  In this episode of The Opportunity Gap , we talk about the importance of mental health. We explore its stigma in communities of color and share tips for how to respond to life’s twists and turns. Listen as Tim Massaquoi, a l...

From the decisions they make to the words they say, parents play a huge role in supporting their child’s mental health. Kids may not always be looking to their parents to be perfect or pillars of strength. But they are looking for healthy ways to cope when life treats them unfairly. So, it’s essential for parents and caregivers to make mental wellness a priority.   This episode of The Opportunity...

Societal trauma, like school shootings and racial injustice, have become all too commonplace in our kids’ lives. It’s tough for families to help any child process the feelings that come along with these traumatic events. And it can be extra challenging for families of kids of color with learning and thinking differences like ADHD.   In this episode of The Opportunity Gap , we explore trauma: its c...

Bonus episode! Learn about special education evaluations from the hosts of two podcasts from the Understood Podcast Network. Julian Saavedra is an assistant principal and the host of The Opportunity Gap . Dr. Andrew Kahn is a psychologist and the host of Understood Explains . Together, they explain how and why schools evaluate kids for special education.   The episode also includes tips from paren...

For Black History Month, we’re celebrating three pioneering Black women with disabilities: science-fiction author Octavia E. Butler, who had undiagnosed dyslexia; Grammy winner Solange Knowles, who has ADHD; and activist Lois Curtis, who won a landmark Supreme Court case about disability rights. Visit the episode page for a transcript and links to helpful resources.  We’d love to hear from you. Wr...

Meeting with the school to plan your child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) can be intimidating. This is true for any parent or guardian. But you may feel an extra layer of unease if you’re the only Black or brown person in the room.   Listen to this episode of The Opportunity Gap t o get IEP meeting tips for parents of kids of color. Learn from Taína Coleman, a mom of two and an education...

What is growth mindset? How can you shift your thinking from “I can’t do it” to “I can’t do it yet?” And why is mindset extra important for kids who learn and think differently?   This episode explains key concepts through the life experiences of Savannah Treviño-Casias, a young adult who was diagnosed with dyscalculia in sixth grade. Find out how she went from believing she could never do math to...

Is ADHD more likely to be overlooked in Black kids? Or is it overdiagnosed?   In this episode, pediatrician Dr. Tumaini Coker shares insights on ADHD and race. Learn about Dr. Coker’s research into health equity and how clinics can help reduce the racial disparities in diagnosing and treating ADHD in children of color.   You’ll also get practical tips for parents from an expert who has a personal...

It’s an all too familiar situation for many families of color. The phone rings. It’s the school calling to say your child has been “acting out” in class. Again.   In this episode about bias in school discipline, host Julian Saavedra talks with Busola Saka, a parent and creator of Instagram’s @BlackBoyThrive , and Jolie Battista, a former special education teacher who’s an expert on positive behavi...

Debunked! Learn five common myths about special education that can keep kids from getting the support they deserve. Host Julian Saavedra and expert guest Christina Gutierrez explain common misconceptions and offer tips on how to help your child thrive.  Christina is the mom of a child with an IEP. She is also a former special educator. Find out which of the five top myths “gets under her skin” the...

Listen to the trailer for Season 2 of The Opportunity Gap , a podcast for parents of kids of color who learn and think differently. Season 2 digs deeper into ADHD and other learning differences and offers tips on how to advocate for your child.  Host Julian Saavedra is a father of two. He’s also an assistant principal who has spent nearly 20 years working in public schools.  Get a transcript for t...

Melissa is a single mom from Philadelphia. She faced many challenges while raising her son Abdullah, who has ADHD and other learning differences. A second-generation Puerto Rican and a high school graduate, Melissa faced stigma, limited resources, and a knowledge barrier. But she dedicated herself to making sure her son could learn and self-advocate — all while juggling seven other kids.   This we...

Has your child ever been called names because they struggle to read? Do you worry that your child’s learning differences are your fault? This episode features three audio stories from the Understood family about bullying, shame, and parenting guilt around learning differences and ADHD.  Hosts Julian Saavedra and Marissa Wallace react to each story, and offer their thoughts and advice for parents a...

LeDerick Horne is a Black man, poet, activist, and person with dyslexia. He’s spoken at the White House. And he wrote a definitive book on hidden disabilities. But his life could have all turned out differently.  As a child, LeDerick couldn’t read. He was labeled “neurologically impaired” and was put in separate special education classes. And he struggled to find his place as a Black man in Americ...

As in-person learning gets underway across the country, schools are seeing an increase in disengagement and even disrespect from some students. After two years of learning online and often alone, socializing and sitting still in the classroom can be challenging for kids. Add in learning and thinking differences like ADHD, and it’s a recipe for behavior issues.  This week on The Opportunity Gap , h...

Black parents and families of color know about “The Talk”: the conversation they must have with their kids about the dangers posed by racism and injustice in society. But how does this conversation change when learning differences and disability are part of the picture?   This week, The Opportunity Gap tackles how to talk with your child about learning and thinking differences and why this is a cr...

Atira Roberson says she’s Black, female, and has a learning disability. And if you don’t see all three, you don’t see her .  The Opportunity Gap welcomes Atira to the show for a special conversation about what it means to be a Black girl with learning differences in the United States. Atira shares her journey — from a student with an IEP, unaware of her differences, to a candidate for a master’s i...

Thousands of kids of color from marginalized communities are already behind when they start kindergarten. One cause: Families often don’t know about free help for babies and toddlers with developmental delays.  In this episode, co-host Marissa Wallace opens up about her biracial son who had language delays as a toddler. Even though Marissa is a teacher, she didn’t know exactly what to do. Luckily,...

Schools around the country are facing a huge shortage of special education teachers and other staff. How is the teacher shortage impacting kids with disabilities or learning and thinking differences? What about kids who are marginalized? Co-host Marissa Wallace starts the episode with a story about how her husband, a Black man, was offered a special education teaching job even though he’s in the f...

Everyone agrees it’s critical to teach Black history to kids with learning differences and ADHD, as well as to students who get special education. But what’s the best way to teach it? How can families engage their kids in Black history — as well as in current events in the Black community?  This episode features Kimberly Eckert, 2018 Louisiana Teacher of the Year, in a conversation about race, par...

What should families of color know about ADHD? The podcast welcomes Kristin Carothers, PhD, a Black clinical psychologist who specializes in working with families of kids who have ADHD and learning differences.  “Dr. Kristin” shares why ADHD — and ADHD medication — hold such a heavy place in the hearts of Black families. The discussion focuses on the cultural conversation around ADHD. Dr. Kristin...

Schools are reeling from the impact of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19. But what does it mean for special education, kids with learning and thinking differences, and marginalized communities?  Hosts Julian Saavedra and Marissa Wallace discuss how they’re managing the new COVID wave as both parents and teachers. They get an update on how schools around the country are responding, with some goin...

Kids who have learning and thinking differences or other disabilities can also be gifted. This is known as being “twice exceptional,” or “2e.” But what does twice exceptional mean for Black and brown kids? In this episode, hosts Julian Saavedra and Marissa Wallace explore how kids who struggle with learning can also have incredible talents and skills. However, for marginalized kids, these abilitie...

Advocating for your kids in an IEP meeting can be scary for any family. Now imagine that the family is undocumented and worried about immigration enforcement as they try to get help for their kids with learning and thinking differences. In this episode, hosts Julian Saavedra and Marissa Wallace talk to Kareem Neal, a Black special education teacher in Arizona. Kareem shares his experiences with ki...