In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently – Details, episodes & analysis

Brushing their teeth. Taking a shower. Cleaning up after themselves. What’s going on when kids seem to ignore these must-do tasks? And what can parents and caregivers do to change that?

In this episode of In It, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek talk with Brendan Mahan. Brendan is an executive function coach and the host of the podcast ADHD Essentials. 

He offers tips and strategies to help parents and caregivers understand why some kids avoid working on their personal hygiene.

To get a transcript of this show and check out more episodes, visit the In It podcast page at Understood.

We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected].

Related resources

• Washing hands: How to get kids in the habit 
• ADHD and messiness
• A day in the life of a child with slow processing speed
• Brendan’s podcast, ADHD Essentials

Timestamps

(01:51) Cleanliness and self-care

(06:43) Executive function, room cleaning, and more

(18:07) Social concerns

(21:07) Reward systems

(23:07) Hygiene late bloomers

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

Gearing up for a new school year can feel overwhelming. As the first day of school gets close, kids have so much to think about. And so do parents and caregivers. 

In this episode of In It, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek talk with Kate Garcia. Kate is a high school teacher with lots of back-to-school experience and tips. 

For a transcript of this episode and more resources, visit the In It episode page at Understood.org.

We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected].

Related resources

• Bedtime battles: Why won’t my child just go to sleep?
• The best way to ease the back-to-school transition
• Check out Understood’s back-to-school support guide
• Download: Backpack checklist
• GoblinTools: Magic ToDo

Timestamps

(1:22) Getting back on a sleep schedule  

(3:36) Picking out clothes

(6:40) Getting organized

(9:55) How to communicate with the school  

(13:24) Helping kids have good food to fuel their day

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

When families are in a dispute about their child’s special education, it can be tricky to know how to handle things. There are big emotions involved, and the law around IEPs, or Individualized Education Programs, can be confusing.  

But in some cases, it might help to work with a special education attorney.  

In this episode of In It, Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek welcome special education attorney Robert Tudisco. Rob was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. He is an expert in special education law and disability advocacy. 

Listen to learn why families may hire a special education attorney — and what steps to think about before engaging a lawyer.  

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 [email protected].

Related resources:

• 6 options for resolving an IEP dispute
• 5 options for resolving a 504 plan dispute
• Can the school give my child with an IEP “unofficial” suspensions?

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

Do you ever wonder if having an IEP means your child will be labeled forever? Are you worried that an IEP will mean your child is separated from their peers? 

Well, those are actually both myths. And this week, we’re sharing a podcast episode that’s all about busting common myths relating to IEPs, or Individualized Education Programs. 

The episode comes from the latest season of Understood Explains, which is all about IEPs. It’s hosted by Juliana Urtubey, a special education expert and former National Teacher of the Year. 

If you like what you hear, search for and follow Understood Explains wherever you get podcasts. Their new season is launching now. 

We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected]. 

• 10 special education myths you may hear
• 5 myths about English language learners and special 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

If you think your child is struggling at school, what’s the best way to make sure they’re getting the support they need? Who should you talk to first? Should you call a meeting, send an email, or do something else?

In this episode of In It, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek welcome Julian Saavedra. Julian is an assistant principal in Philadelphia and the host of another Understood podcast, The Opportunity Gap.

Julian shares tips and strategies about what to do if your child needs more — or different — support in the classroom. He also provides a road map of where to start advocating for your child, plus how to work as a team with your child’s teachers and school.

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 [email protected].

• 8 steps to advocating for your child at school
• Podcast: How to get kids to talk about school
• How to use accommodations and modifications in the classroom

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

Michelle Carter is an athlete and businessperson. She was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia as a young child. 

With her parents’ support, she discovered her talents in track and field, going on to compete in three Olympic Games: in 2008, 2012, and 2016. Michelle won gold in 2016. Now she runs You Throw Girl, a camp that helps girls build confidence. 

Michelle believes that for kids who are struggling with a learning or thinking difference, sports can be a big help. “It gives them a moment to just get that energy out, let their brains be free while they’re making their bodies work,” she says. 

In this episode of In It, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek talk with Michelle about the challenges she faced in and out of school. They also learn about her experiences as a world-class athlete and entrepreneur. 

Michelle shares tips for kids to build their confidence. She also offers advice to help parents and families of kids with learning and thinking differences.   

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 [email protected].

Related resources:

• How to get your child involved in sports
• Video: Michelle Carter wins Olympic gold with dyslexia and ADHD
• Podcast: Understood Explains on evaluations for special education
• Read: All about careers for kids who learn and think differently  

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

From the colors of the classroom to the noises of the playground, school can be overwhelming for kids with sensory processing challenges. One author has turned these experiences into a new picture book. The book aims to help kids who have trouble processing sensory information. 

In this episode of In It, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek talk with Lindsey Rowe Parker, author of Wiggles, Stomps and Squeezes: Calming My Jitters at School. It’s the second in a series of picture books about sensory differences for kids.

Lindsey was a child with sensory differences. And now she’s a parent to a daughter with autism and a son who is neurodivergent. 

Lindsey begins by reading a section of the book. Then she talks about the importance of representation in children’s books. She also shares some of the sensory challenges she faced as a kid, and other real-life stories she included in the book.

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 [email protected].

Related resources

• Wiggles, Stomps and Squeezes: Calming My Jitters at School
• Sensory processing challenges fact sheet 
• Surviving the holidays with sensory processing challenges
• Summer survival guide: Hacks to help your family thrive  

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

Language disorders can lead to many questions, both in the classroom and elsewhere. How will the school handle it? What can you do to help at home? And what if you’re not even sure if a language disorder is what your child is struggling with?

In this episode of In It, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek talk with Kelli Johnson, a Minneapolis-based educational speech-language pathologist who is also a writer and expert reviewer at Understood.  

Kelli explains what her job is all about, and what it means to have a language disorder. She also talks about making her work with students fun while helping them navigate this learning and thinking difference.

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 [email protected].

• Language disorder fact sheet 
• What are language disorders
• How speech-language pathologists work with kids

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

Getting diagnosed with a learning and thinking difference can be a big relief for many kids. But for some kids, the news can lead to many questions and worries. They may not want to talk about their diagnosis at all. And sometimes, the way kids respond to their diagnosis changes over time.

In this episode, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek welcome Preetika Mukherjee, a pediatric neuropsychologist. Dr. Mukherjee offers suggestions for ways to talk with your child after a diagnosis. Tune in to get her advice on making these tough conversations easier.

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 [email protected].

• 6 ways kids might respond to an evaluation result
• How to talk to your child about learning and thinking differences
• 4 ways I helped my daughter get comfortable talking about her learning difference
• ADHD TikTok 101 with Dr. Sasha Hamdani

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

When siblings have different needs, what’s a parent to do?  

In this episode of In It, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek talk with Dr. Ari Tuckman, a psychologist who works with families and couples. He shares tips for finding balance in parenting kids when one has a learning or thinking difference. And he talks about the importance of the idea that “fair doesn’t always mean equal.”

This is part two of a two-part series. In part one, we talked to Becca, a mom of two raising one child with ADHD and one without.

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 [email protected].

• A kid with ADHD. A kid without. One mom’s story (Part 1 of this two-part series) 
• 6 tips for helping kids understand siblings who learn and think differently
• How to deal with sibling rivalry when one child learns and thinks differently
• ADHD runs in the family (Michelle’s story)

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