In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently

• Need help advocating for your kid at school? We talk to a pro

  In this episode of In It, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek welcome professional parent advocate Danielle Ward. Danielle started out advocating for her own kids, several years ago. Now, through her company Encompass Parent Solutions, she offers families of kids with learning and thinking differences non-legal help with advocacy, support, and education counsel. Danielle chats with Gretchen and Rachel about some of the most important dos and don’ts for parents who are advocating for their child at school. Danielle outlines the steps to take when your child is struggling and how to recognize when a parent advocate might be necessary. She also explains the difference between a parent advocate and a special education attorney.For a transcript and more resources, visit the In It page on Understood.We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected] resources8 steps to advocating for your child at schoolWhere to find legal helpThe difference between special education advocates and attorneysWhat is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)?Listen: An attorney’s advice on special education disputesTimestamps(00:59) What does a parent advocate do?(02:56) Description of Danielle’s first IEP meeting(04:57) Understanding the difference between parent advocates and lawyers(08:13) Whether or not kids should be in meetings at school(09:22) Steps to follow when you sense your child is struggling(10:33) What to do when your child has a diagnosis(15:24) Tips for writing an effective letter or email(19:02) Dos and don’ts for child advocacy(22:06) Guidelines for recording meetings 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

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• Parenting’s a lot. Especially when you’re a lot

  In this episode of In It, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek welcome parenting coach Mary Van Geffen. Mary offers online classes including a special one for moms of what she calls “spicy ones.” She also shares fun, funny, and relatable posts every day on Instagram.Mary talks with Gretchen and Rachel about parenting spicy kids and how to know if you, too, are spicy. What does it mean to be spicy? Are you spicy? And what should you do about it?Related resourcesParenting tips when you and your child have ADHDBody doubling for ADHD: What it is and how it works5 oddly specific ADHD strategies that help me workListen: ADHD and: Parenting failsListen: Double trouble: ADHD moms share what it’s like to parent kids with ADHDMary Van Geffen: Parent Coach for the Spicy OnesTMTimestamps  (1:10) Defining “spicy ones”(4:41) Parents’ worries about themselves as parent  (7:36) What impacts children most(8:59) Dealing with sensory overload as a parent(16:51) Organization challenges for parents with ADHD(18:55) Body doublingFor a transcript and more resources, visit the In It page on Understood.We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected]. 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

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• Trouble with skill-building for ADHD? Here’s help

  For kids who struggle with ADHD, building skills like executive function and self-advocacy can be difficult. In this episode of In It, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek welcome Dr. Andy Kahn. Andy is a licensed psychologist and the associate director of behavior change and expertise here at Understood. He’s also the host of the podcast Parenting Behavior with Dr. Andy Kahn.Andy discusses why skill-building is important for kids with ADHD. He also shares many ways families can help.Related resourcesUnderstanding impulsivity in kidsThe 3 areas of executive functionADHD medication shortages: 8 ways to copeListen: Talking through social strugglesListen: The power of self-advocacy for kids at IEP and 504 meetingsTimestamps  (1:27) Reasons why some kids do not take meds (3:42) Areas where skill-building can help kids with ADHD (5:33) Skill-building for executive function (10:38) Skill-building for social situations(15:40) Skill-building for impulsivity (19:25) Understanding and working on self-advocacy (23:00) The connection between access to medication and skill-buildingFor a transcript of this episode and more resources, visit the In It page on Understood.We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected]. 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

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• Have a struggling reader? Try these tips

  What makes learning to read difficult? And how does having dyslexia make it even more challenging?In this episode of In It, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek welcome literacy expert Louise Baigelman. A former teacher, Louise is the co-founder and CEO of the literacy organization Storyshares. She explains why reading can be so challenging for kids who struggle with dyslexia, and shares tips and strategies to help.Tune in to get Louise’s expert advice on how to help struggling readers.Related resources9 terms to know if your child has trouble with readingThe difference between dyslexia and dyscalculia9 free public library resources for your child (and you)What is explicit instruction?Listen: Dyslexia is more than mixing up lettersTimestamps (1:08) Why reading is such a challenge for kids with dyslexia(2:06) The meaning of explicit instruction(2:37) Common reading struggles for kids with dyslexia(4:18) Reasons learning to read gets harder as kids get older(5:19) Ways to engage struggling readers(8:14) How audiobooks can help(12:16) The science of reading(17:11) Activities to help support reading  (22:53) Next steps and tips for parents of struggling readersFor a transcript and more resources, visit the In It episode page on Understood.We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected]. 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

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• Feeling socially isolated as a parent? You’re not alone

  Parenting can often feel socially isolating. On this episode of In It, we hear from a few parents who have felt socially isolated while raising kids with learning and thinking differences. They share some of the challenges they have run into and talk about some strategies they’ve found for building relationships with other adults. Related resources8 things I wish people knew about parenting a child with ADHDWhy some kids have trouble making friends7 ways to prepare kids for visiting relatives and family friendsListen: ADHD and puberty: What to expectListen: Guided meditation for stressed parentsListen: Homework battles: What really mattersTimestamps  (1:10) Parent friendships(1:59) When your parenting style is misunderstood or judged(5:48) Finding parents who can relate(7:34) Realizing the risks that come with sharing experiences with other parents(8:49) Being friends with parents of kids who are not friends with your own kid(10:31) When the parent is neurodiverseFor a transcript of this episode and more resources, visit the In It page on UnderstoodWe love hearing from our listeners! Email us at [email protected] 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

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