In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently

When does being “bad at math” mean something more? For Lily, a Missouri teen with dyscalculia, math struggles go a lot further than math class. On this episode, we go inside Lily’s world and experience the unexpected challenges that pop up because of her math learning disability. Amanda and Lexi talk with expert Daniel Ansari about why dyscalculia is underdiagnosed. And they hear from parents who called in to share what math challenges are like in their family.  Related resourcesUnderstanding dyscalculia10 surprising ways dyscalculia impacts kidsMath anxiety vs. dyscalculia: Comparing the signsVideo: Why is dyslexia diagnosed more often than dyscalculia?What “I’m not a math person” means to me Understood.org 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Who do you tell? When? Telling people your child has ADHD, dyslexia, or other learning challenges is a big, complicated decision. Hosts Amanda Morin and Lexi Walters Wright talk with families whose experiences range from triumphant to cautionary. Gimlet Media’s Wilson Standish shares why he’s still cautious about disclosing. And expert Manju Banerjee explains how to pass the disclosure torch to your young adult child. To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood. Related resourcesTips for talking with family members about your child’s challengesPros and cons of disclosing learning and thinking differences at college   Understood.org 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It’s scary — in the moment and even recalling it years later. Reading out loud in front of a group when you have dyslexia can be legitimately awful. Hosts Amanda Morin and Lexi Walters Wright dig into this fear with a mom whose son stumbled over reading his own name in front of his class. They hear from other parents, too, and hockey champion Brent Sopel. Expert Bob Cunningham also weighs in with insight on whether kids really do need to read out loud, and how to make the experience better for kids who struggle with reading.  To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood. Related resourcesVideo: Stanley Cup champ Brent Sopel on hiding reading struggles “behind his stick”Video: Gavin Newsom opens up about his dyslexiaOne of my scariest moments as a child with dyslexia? Reading aloud during Passover  Understood.org 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It’s a dreaded (and hurtful) question that families get asked too often: “Is ADHD even real?” Hosts Amanda Morin and Lexi Walters Wright hear from parents of kids with ADHD who’ve muddled through explaining their child’s attention, hyperactivity and impulsivity issues to family and friends. And they hear from expert Stephanie Sarkis, PhD, about the brain science behind ADHD. To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood. Related resources“Is ADHD real?” How I respond when people doubt ADHDCommon myths about ADHDStephanie Sarkis, PhD: My wild family history of ADHD   Understood.org 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this first episode of In It, hosts Amanda Morin and Lexi Walters Wright dig into why emotions tend to run high in IEP meetings. They talk with comedian Dena Blizzard about her (very) public reaction to a disappointing IEP meeting. They hear from other parents who have gotten emotional when discussing the needs of their kids struggling in school. And they also connect with expert Mark Griffin, PhD, about what’s at stake during these meetings. Related resourcesOur community weighs in: Crying at IEP meetingsMom’s emotional video about IEP frustration goes viral5 questions with Dena Blizzard, comedian and parent of a child with learning and thinking differences Understood.org 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.