The Opportunity Gap Understood.org

Wondering how to make the most of parent-teacher conferences? Planning ahead can help you walk into the next meeting with confidence.

In this episode of “In It,” get advice on how to prepare for parent-teacher conferences from DeJunne’ Clark Jackson. Hear how DeJunne’ prepares herself — and her kids — for parent-teacher conferences. Plus, get tips on how to help your child talk with you about school.

Understood.org is a nonprofit focused on shaping the world for difference so the millions of people with learning and thinking differences can thrive. Learn more about “The Opportunity Gap” and all our podcasts at u.org/podcasts.

Copyright © 2023 Understood for All, Inc. All rights reserved.

Some teachers, despite their best efforts, bring their own biases into the classroom. And their beliefs impact how they interact with students and their families in a major way.

Racial bias in education is a common experience — and it shouldn’t be. In this episode, we address a pressing issue with guest Afrika Afeni Mills, MEd. Listen as Afrika explains:

-How racial bias can influence relationships between parents and the school
-The importance of teachers and schools promoting equity in education
-Steps students and parents can take to address racial bias effectively.

Understood.org is a nonprofit focused on shaping the world for difference so the millions of people with learning and thinking differences can thrive. Learn more about “The Opportunity Gap” and all our podcasts at u.org/podcasts.

Copyright © 2023 Understood for All, Inc. All rights reserved.

The signs of dyslexia are often overlooked. And there’s so much parents of kids of color can do to advocate for the right support for this learning difference. Our guest is Dyslexia Mom Boss host Lauren McClenney-Rosenstein, EdD. Listen as Dr. Lauren explains:

- Her own personal experience with learning and thinking differences
- What parents need to know about Orton-Gillingham
- Ways parents and schools can work together to help kids of color thrive

Understood.org is a nonprofit focused on shaping the world for difference so the millions of people with learning and thinking differences can thrive. Learn more about “The Opportunity Gap” and all our podcasts at u.org/podcasts.

Copyright © 2023 Understood for All, Inc. All rights reserved.

Bonus episode! Introducing Understood’s newest podcast: “What Now? A Parent’s Guide.” Tune in for a peek at Season 1, which is all about tantrums and meltdowns. We’re sharing Episode 6, “Identifying your child’s behavior triggers.” Listen to host Dr. Andrew Kahn as he explains how to find your child’s behavior triggers to prevent tantrums and meltdowns.

Understood.org is a nonprofit focused on shaping the world for difference so the millions of people with learning and thinking differences can thrive. Learn more about “The Opportunity Gap” and all our podcasts at u.org/podcasts.

Copyright © 2023 Understood for All, Inc. All rights reserved.

Learning disabilities are real challenges that are not related to intelligence. They impact millions of kids and adults in the United States. And people who have them are not at all “lazy.”

Learning disabilities are caused by differences in the brain. And they often are hereditary. These challenges can impact people at school, at work, and in everyday life. But the good news is there are strategies and supports that can help people with learning disabilities thrive.

In this episode, listen as Julian explains:
-What learning disabilities are and how they are diagnosed
-The differences between an IEP and a 504 plan
-Ways to tell if a child is struggling with a learning disability

Understood.org is a nonprofit focused on shaping the world for difference so the millions of people with learning and thinking differences can thrive. Learn more about “The Opportunity Gap” and all our podcasts at u.org/podcasts.

Copyright © 2023 Understood for All, Inc. All rights reserved.

We recorded this episode in Spanish, in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Los padres suelen tener muchas preguntas referentes a la educación especial. En el proceso de entender y aprender de qué se trata, se topan con términos y una jerga con los que no están familiarizados. Ante esto, cualquiera se podría sentir abrumado. Pero las dificultades pueden ser aún mayores para muchas familias hispanas.

El acceso a la información es limitado o difícil de encontrar para algunas familias hispanas. También las barreras lingüísticas y las diferencias culturales juegan un papel muy importante. Estos factores pueden hacer que los padres se sientan inseguros sobre cuál es la mejor manera de ayudar a sus hijos.

En este episodio respondemos preguntas sobre la educación especial. Explicamos qué son las discapacidades del aprendizaje y cómo pueden afectar la vida diaria. Examinanos en detalle los apoyos que brindan las escuelas para ayudar a los niños a progresar en el aula. Escuche a la educadora Claudia Rinaldi (PhD) explicar:

Las diferencias entre el IEP y el plan 504
Cómo saber si un niño tiene una diferencia de aprendizaje o problemas para aprender un nuevo idioma
Los derechos legales que tienen las familias al solicitar una evaluación

Visite la página del episodio para obtener la transcripción y enlaces a recursos útiles.

Nos encantaría saber de usted. Escríbanos a opportunitygap@understood.org.

Understood.org es una organización sin fines de lucro enfocada en crear un mundo en el que puedan prosperar los millones de personas que piensan y aprenden de manera diferente. Obtenga más información sobre “The Opportunity Gap” y todos nuestros podcasts en u.org/podcasts.

Derechos de autor © 2023 Understood for All, Inc. Todos los derechos reservados.

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When it comes to special education, parents often have many questions. While learning the ins and outs, they come across terms and jargon that they’re not familiar with. This can leave any parent feeling overwhelmed. But for many Hispanic families, it can feel like an even bigger challenge.

For some Hispanic families, access to this information is limited. Or even hard to find. For others, language barriers and cultural differences play a huge role. These factors can make parents feel unsure about how to best support their child’s needs.

In this episode, we answer questions about special education. We break down what learning disabilities are and how they can impact daily life. We take a closer look at supports schools provide to help kids make progress in the classroom. Listen as Dr. Claudia Rinaldi, an educator, explains:

The difference between IEP and 504 plans
Ways to figure out if a child has a learning difference or trouble learning a new language
Legal rights families have when requesting an evaluation

We recorded this episode in Spanish, in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

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.

Understood.org is a nonprofit focused on shaping the world for difference so the millions of people with learning and thinking differences can thrive. Learn more about “The Opportunity Gap” and all our podcasts at u.org/podcasts.

Copyright © 2023 Understood for All, Inc. All rights reserved.