Opportunity Gap: How to Support Kids of Color Who Learn Differently

Does your child avoid reading, get easily frustrated, or stumble over familiar words? These may be signs they’re having trouble with reading. In this episode, we talk to literacy expert Shaquala Holmes, MEd. Shaquala has dedicated her career to helping students become better readers. Listen as she shares:Tips for what to look for when reading with your childWays to help kids grow their confidence, one word at a timeRelated resourcesHow to help kids with reading at homeUnderstanding why kids struggle with reading7 tips to help kids understand what they readTimestamps(01:20) Ways to assess a child’s reading level(08:55) How to spark an interest in reading(11:55) What families can do during reading time  To get a transcript and check out more episodes, visit the Opportunity Gap episode page at Understood.We love to hear from our listeners. Email us at [email protected]. Understood is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

Parenting a child with ADHD can feel like a constant balancing act — juggling patience, understanding, and supporting your child’s unique needs. It often leads to questions like, Am I doing enough? What can I do better?In this episode, we talk with Dr. Larry Jones, a retired pediatrician and father of sons with ADHD. Listen as Dr. Larry reflects on:Navigating his own ADHD diagnosisWhat he’s learned about raising kids with ADHDAnd what he might have done differently in hindsightRelated resourcesLarry A. Jones, MD, MBAParenting Tips When You and Your Child Have ADHDUnderstanding ADHD in your childTimestamps​​(01:42) Dr. Larry on raising kids with ADHD(05:25) Dr. Larry on receiving his own ADHD diagnosis(08:37) Navigating ADHD and its stigma(10:04) What Dr. Larry would do differently raising kids with ADHDTo get a transcript and check out more episodes, visit the Opportunity Gap episode page at Understood.We love to hear from our listeners. Email us at [email protected]. Understood is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

The holiday season is filled with joy and spending time with loved ones. But the festivities with their big gatherings, bright lights, and loud noises can be a lot for kids with learning and thinking differences to handle.So, how can parents help kids prepare for the busy holiday season? Listen as Julian shares:Tips to help kids prepare for social interactionsWays to create calm spaces for when kids begin to feel overwhelmedReasons why setting clear expectations can help kids feel more secure and preparedRelated resources5 tips to get ready for the holidays8 tips for helping kids with social skills challenges cope with the holiday season8 difficult holiday situations that make some kids anxiousTimestamps(00:38) Understanding holiday overwhelm for kids(01:44) Ways to practice social scenarios(03:28) Tips on how to teach kids to share(05:17) How to create a calm space for kids(07:16) Why it’s important to set clear expectationsTo get a transcript and check out more episodes, visit the Opportunity Gap episode page at Understood.We love to hear from our listeners. Email us at [email protected]. Understood is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

Parenting kids with multiple learning and thinking differences is often filled with many twists and turns. It’s a journey that requires a strong support system, resilience, and hope. And each day calls for patience and understanding from both parents and their children.In this episode, we welcome Jennifer Bywaters. Jennifer is the proud mom of a son with dyslexia, dysgraphia, and ADHD. Listen as she shares:Her family’s journey of receiving multiple diagnosesThe uplifting moments that have kept her family strongAnd what this experience has taught her about resilienceRelated resourcesParenting guilt: Tips to get past itGuided meditation for stressed parents7 things I wish people knew about parenting kids with dyslexiaTimestamps(2:20) How Jennifer noticed her child’s learning challenges(4:41) How receiving multiple diagnoses impacted Jennifer and her child(8:44) What Jennifer has found most helpful when advocating for her child’s needs(10:49) What Jennifer’s parenting journey has taught her about resilienceTo get a transcript and check out more episodes, visit the Opportunity Gap episode page at Understood.We love to hear from our listeners. Email us at [email protected]. Understood is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give