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

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.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

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.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

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 this episode and check out more Opportunity Gap episodes at u.org/opportunitygap.Comments? Email us at opportunitygap@understood.org.  Understood.org is a resource dedicated to shaping the world so the 70 million people in the U.S. with learning and thinking differences can thrive. Learn more about The Opportunity Gap and all our podcasts at u.org/podcasts.  Copyright © 2022 Understood for All, Inc. All rights reserved. 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

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 week, Julian Saavedra and Marissa Wallace welcome Melissa, who they’ve been friends with ever since they taught her son. Listen in to hear how this mom beat the odds by being her son’s best advocate. Hear the advice she has for parents like herself. And find out what Abdullah is up to now.  To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood. You can also download Wunder by Understood. This free app includes exercises that can help you track your child's behavior, look for patterns, and get personalized tips along the way.We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at opportunitygap@understood.org.Related resources8 steps to advocating for your child at schoolHow to find more support when you have kids who learn and think differentlyPerspectives: How to make sure families of color are heard by the school  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

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 and caretakers. Listen in for practical strategies from our teacher hosts on how to respond. Find out what a “lunch bunch” is and how it can help kids gain friends and confidence, even in virtual settings. And feel less alone by hearing what you might share in common with others. To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood. You can also download Wunder by Understood. This free app includes exercises that can help you track your child's behavior, look for patterns, and get personalized tips along the way.We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at opportunitygap@understood.org.Related resourcesVideo: Jade, an eighth grader, talks about how it feels to have reading challengesManju Banerjee on how stigma impacts the Asian American communityVideo: Collin Diedrich on imposter syndrome and learning 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

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 America with learning differences. He says one mistake could have led him to prison or worse, like many of his classmates. In this episode of The Opportunity Gap, hosts Julian Saavedra and Marissa Wallace talk with LeDerick about all the people who made a difference in his life. LeDerick shares his advice on how to help kids of color with learning differences thrive. Stay tuned until the end of the episode for a special reading by LeDerick of a poem that will inspire your family. To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood. We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at opportunitygap@understood.org. Related resourcesVideo: The challenges of being an African American who learns and thinks differentlyVideo: LeDerick Horne, poet and activist with learning disabilitiesTo be Black in America with a learning disability 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

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, hosts Julian Saavedra and Marissa Wallace challenge listeners to think of “misbehavior” as a form of communication. They share their experiences as educators and parents, and they offer their advice on how to help kids with their behavior. Julian and Marissa also talk about how culture can determine which behaviors are seen as “good” or “bad.” And they discuss why so many kids of color are misunderstood by white teachers. To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood. We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at opportunitygap@understood.org. Related resourcesThe difference between discipline and punishmentHow to help young kids with behavior challengesUnderstanding behavior as communication: A teacher’s guide 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

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 critical conversation to have for kids of all ages. Hosts Julian Saavedra and Marissa Wallace discuss how to avoid shame around differences and disability, and what words you can use. Listen for tips and advice on how to prepare for the conversation. To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood. We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at opportunitygap@understood.org. Related resourcesHow to talk to your child about learning and thinking differencesVideo: LeDerick Horne on being Black and learning differentlyADHD parenting tips from a Black clinical psychologist 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

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 in public administration. She talks about the strong Black mother who advocated for her, and the church community that supported her along the way. And she shares her number one priority for educational change in this country: stopping the criminalization of Black girls with ADHD and learning disabilities. To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood. We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at opportunitygap@understood.org. Related resourcesTo be Black in America with a learning disabilityVideo: An African American poet who learns differentlyTwo Black women discuss the teen with ADHD put in juvie for not doing her homework 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

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, her doctor recommended free early intervention services. To make sure other families don’t miss out, Marissa and co-host Julian Saavedra raise awareness about early childhood intervention services. They also discuss the barriers to access that kids in low-income areas face. And they share tips for how families can seek out early intervention. To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood. We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at opportunitygap@understood.org. Reports mentioned in this episodeOur Youngest Learners: Increasing Equity in Early Intervention, by The Education TrustEarly Inequities: How Underfunding Early Intervention Leaves Low-Income Children of Color Behind, by Citizens’ Committee for Children of New YorkRelated resourcesWhat is early intervention?How to get an early intervention evaluationFederal government developmental milestones 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