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 licensed professional counselor and retired NFL player, explains:Why it’s OK for kids of color and their parents to ask for helpHow he uses sports to help kids think about their own mental healthWays positive self-talk can boost kids’ self-esteemVisit the episode page for a transcript and links to helpful resources.  We’d love to hear from you. Write to us at opportunitygap@understood.org.  Related resourcesTim Massaquoi’s podcast, Mind Ya MentalsTherapy for Black GirlsTherapy for Black Men 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

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 Gap explores the importance of good mental health for kids who learn and think differently and their parents. Listen as Kier Gaines, a licensed therapist and digital creator, explains: The unique challenges of parenting and how it impacts kids’ mental healthSocial media’s influence on kids’ self-esteem and social interactionsWays parents can promote good mental health to their childVisit the episode page for a transcript and links to helpful resources.  We’d love to hear from you. Write to us at opportunitygap@understood.org.  Related resourcesHow does social media affect mental health? It’s complicated.UCLA Health MARC Guided MeditationsMental Health America: Self-help toolsKier Gaines’ Instagram and YouTube channels 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

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 causes, how to identify it, and how it impacts us. Listen as Dr. Kristin Carothers, a clinical psychologist, explains:How trauma shows up in kids’ behaviorSupports for parents and educators of kids of colorTips for talking to your childVisit the episode page for a transcript and links to helpful resources.  We’d love to hear from you. Write to us at opportunitygap@understood.org.  Related resourcesHow to have hard but necessary conversations with your childLearn how scary news can impact kids who learn and think differentlyThe National Child Traumatic Stress Network 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

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 parenting expert Amanda Morin on what to say to your child about getting evaluated. Get a transcript for this show and check out more Understood Explains episodes.We’d love to hear from you. Write to us at opportunitygap@understood.org.Related resourcesWhat is an evaluation for special education?6 benefits of having your child evaluatedDifferent terms you may hear for evaluationsParent training centers: A free resource in your state 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

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. Write to us at opportunitygap@understood.org. Related resourcesThe official site of Octavia E. ButlerOctavia E. Butler as an author of disability literatureSolange Knowles: Role model for African American performers with disabilitiesLois Curtis, whose lawsuit secured disability rights, dies at 55 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

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 to get IEP meeting tips for parents of kids of color. Learn from Taína Coleman, a mom of two and an education specialist at the Child Mind Institute. See how she uses her experience in special education to explain:  Which documents you have the right to see before the meetingHow to ask if the IEP’s annual goals are aiming high enoughWhat to do if you don’t feel ready to sign the IEPVisit the episode page for a transcript and links to helpful resources.  We’d love to hear from you. Write to us at opportunitygap@understood.org.   Related resourcesHow to tell if your child’s IEP goals are SMART (Explainer with lots of examples)IEP goal tracker (Printable worksheet)10 tips for a better IEP meeting (Video)How to organize your child’s IEP binder (Includes video and printable checklist) 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

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 powering her way through a college statistics course so she could become a psychologist.  Learn about the intersection of growth mindset, learning disabilities, and kids of color. And get tips to help struggling students: Understand the power of “yet”Set specific goals that they want to reachVisualize their mindsets by drawing and naming themVisit the episode page for a transcript and links to growth mindset worksheets and other helpful resources. We’d love to hear from you. Write to us at opportunitygap@understood.org. Understood resourcesWhat is growth mindset?Growth mindset activities for kidsMeet Savannah Treviño-Casias, college student with dyscalculiaRelated resourcesDeveloping a growth mindset with Carol DweckMindset, by Carol DweckThe Magical Yet, by Angela DiTerlizziTeaching students of color: Looking race in the faceSDSU professor challenges concept widely embraced by educators 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

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 connection to ADHD. Listen as Dr. Coker talks about stigma and other challenges her family faced when her twin boys showed signs of ADHD in grade school. Get a transcript for this episode and check out more Opportunity Gap episodes at u.org/opportunitygap.  Comments? Email us at opportunitygap@understood.org.  Research cited in this podcastDiagnostic and Medication Treatment Disparities in African American Children with ADHD: A Literature ReviewRacial and Ethnic Disparities in ADHD Diagnosis and TreatmentRelated resources for familiesCommon signs of ADHD at different agesWhat an in-depth ADHD evaluation should look likeHow can I find out if my child was misdiagnosed with ADHD? 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

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 behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS).  Listen as they discuss key terms like implicit bias, significant disproportionality, and manifestation determination. Find out why these terms are extra important to know if you’re the parent of a child of color. And get actionable tips to help advocate for kids who have learning and thinking differences like ADHD and dyslexia.Get a transcript for this episode and check out more Opportunity Gap episodes at u.org/opportunitygap. Comments? Email us at opportunitygap@understood.org. Related resources from UnderstoodWhy kids act out and how to helpWhy some kids play the “class clown”Understanding your child’s behavior as communication (podcast)What is PBIS (positive behavioral interventions and supports)?School discipline: What are the rights of kids with IEPs and 504 plans?Data sources and other informationBias isn’t just a police problem — it’s a preschool problem (NPR)Why, really, are so many Black kids suspended? (Education Week)Pandemic-era civil rights data is essential to inform special education equity (K–12 Dive)Significant disproportionality in special education: Trends among Black students (National Center for Learning Disabilities)New guidance helps schools support students with disabilities and avoid discriminatory use of discipline (U.S. Department of Education) 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

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 most and which one crept into her own thinking when her son was struggling. Get a transcript for this episode and check out more Opportunity Gap episodes at u.org/opportunitygap. Comments? Email us at opportunitygap@understood.org.Related resources Common myths about special educationWhat to do when people don’t believe your child has a learning or thinking differenceHow to get past parenting guiltWunder, the first community app for parents of kids with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia 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