Best Learningdisabilities Podcasts (2024)

1
Motivating Change by Pointing Positive with Debbie 18:56

33m ago18:56

18:56

Do you find yourself frustrated when you correct your child, teen, or young adult and you’re met with resistance? On today’s episode of Autism & Neurodiversity, I’ll be sharing how one simple shift in communication, inspired by the recent river rafting trip we took our student on, can lead to improved emotional regulation, skill development, and in…

1
Ep 88 The Importance of Self-Care in College: Tips for First-Year Students 13:14

3h ago13:14

13:14

Starting college is an exciting milestone, but it also brings numerous challenges. One of the most common mistakes first-year students make is neglecting self-care. The demands of academic life, social activities, and newfound independence can lead to poor health habits. Prioritizing self-care is crucial for maintaining physical and mental well-bei…

1
Some Pitfalls of Narrative Medicine and How to Avoid Them 55:52

5h ago55:52

55:52

The term “Narrative Medicine” (NM) refers to a range of activities, including close reading and reflective writing about literature, designed to improve the clinician-patient relationship. What could go wrong? Our returning guest, English professor Laura Greene, lays out the case for narrative medicine, while co-host Saul Weiner highlights his conc…

1
Rethinking SMART Goals for Neurodivergents with Jason 17:19

5d ago17:19

17:19

Are traditional goal-setting methods like SMART goals failing your neurodivergent child, teen, or young adult? In this episode, discover a fresh perspective on fostering growth and connection. Learn why focusing on tasks rather than attributes like kindness and empathy can lead to stress and avoidance, and how an approach rooted in Eastern philosop…

1
Back-to-school checklist: Everything but the books 21:19

40m ago21:19

21:19

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 o…

1
Ep 87 Questions to Ask College Accessibility Staff 9:57

1d ago9:57

9:57

There are questions you can ask and should ask of the college accessibility staff. Last week was orienting you to the world of accessibility work, in part, and why some questions cannot be answered. However, these questions you can ask. These questions should be part of you college tour and college choice process. It adds some vital information for…

1
Welcome to “In It:” Raising kids who learn differently 1:27

11d ago1:27

1:27

Join us for new episodes of In It, a podcast on raising kids who learn differently. Hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek continue to offer advice, camaraderie, stories of successes, and — let’s be real — failures. We’ll hear from experts, parents, and caregivers on a range of topics — from bribes vs. rewards to managing some of the unanticipate…

1
Ep 86 Got Accommodation questions? Why you may not get the answers you seek. 11:52

17d ago11:52

11:52

I know the pressure and worry about accommodations and making sure your son or daughter gets what they need. As a parent of a son with specific learning disabilities and dyslexia, I worried about the same thing. I get it. It takes a lot of willpower not to take over the process and get it done. I understand that if it gets done, that is just one le…

1
Bedtime battles (from “Parenting Behavior” podcast) 9:13

24d ago9:13

9:13

Bedtime can be a struggle for parents and caregivers of kids of all ages. Maybe your child needs an extra glass of water — three times before bed. Or maybe they want you to read that story “just one more time,” for hours. No matter what roadblocks you face at bedtime, you’re not alone. On this bonus episode of In It, we’re sharing an episode of ano…

1
Ep 85 How to manage emotions for college transition, with Dr. Cam Casswell 34:27

13d ago34:27

34:27

Today, Dr. Cam Casswell gives us her insights into how we, as parents, can prepare ourselves and our teens to make the bigh shift to college. It's a big transition and comes with it's own fears, anxieties, and issues. How do parents cope, deal, and manage all those emotions? What can parents do so thier emotions and reactions don't get in the way o…

1
Ep 84 Parent's Guide to College Mental Health 14:23

23d ago14:23

14:23

College mental health is one of my favorite subjects. I can literally talk about it all day long. What does a student need to do to be mentally healthy? Here are eight episodes all about how to help your student with ADHD, a learning disability, or mental health condition stay mentally well now and throughout thier college journey. Are you on my em…

1
The chasm between how doctors are taught to communicate and what they actually sound like 46:09

1M ago46:09

46:09

There is an idealized version of physician-patient communication that is taught in medical schools, reinforced with acronyms like PEARLS, SPIKES, and LEARN, but what resemblance does it bear to how doctors actually sound in the exam room? Co-host Saul Weiner leads a research team that has audio recorded and analyzed thousands of medical encounters.…

1
Embracing Minimalism for Neurodivergent Well-being with Jason 17:48

1M ago17:48

17:48

Let's talk about clutter! Anxiety, stress, and distractions plague our young people, especially our neurodivergent children, teens, and young adults. Reducing life clutter and focusing on the principals of minimalism can help. Learn the benefits of a minimalistic life approach and why it's a natural fit for our neurodivergent young people. Gain str…

1
Summertime and friendship 13:39

1M ago13:39

13:39

Breaks from school can sometimes mean breaks from other kids. This can be hard for kids with learning and thinking differences. What are some ways to avoid “summer slide” when it comes to social skills and time with friends? And what are some ways to see kids in the summer, when the friends we usually see are not around? In this episode of In It, G…

1
Ep 83 College Transition Episodes You May Not Have Heard. 16:52

1M ago16:52

16:52

Here are some of my favorite episodes that you may not have heard. These contain some of the most overlooked, but essential information. Each of these episodes fills a gap in information and guidance that is hard to find. Yet, this episode highlights past episodes covering critical topics like documentation requirements, gap year considerations, co…

1
Ep 82 Time Management for College- Developing the Right Mindset 17:35

2M ago17:35

17:35

Developing the right mindset for time management for college is a critical change some students don't make. It's unfortunate because being more skilled at time management can mean the world for your grades. It also means having more social time, more fun, less stress, and being responsible. If students don't develop the skills, then they have a har…

1
Connecting with the Hard Ones with Debbie 16:27

1M ago16:27

16:27

We all would like to have meaningful connections with our children, teens, and young adults, and some of our young people are hard to connect with for various reasons. They require different approaches. The quality of our relationships impact our loved one's development and well-being. Discover some strategies for creating meaningful connections an…

1
Stopping summer slide (from “The Opportunity Gap” podcast) 20:46

2M ago20:46

20:46

You may have heard of “summer slide.” It refers to the learning loss that can happen during summer break from school. On this bonus episode of In It, we’re sharing a conversation on how to handle the summer break from another Understood podcast, The Opportunity Gap. Host Julian Saavedra talks with special education teacher Kate García about how fol…

1
Ep 81 5 Practical College Success Tips 19:25

2M ago19:25

19:25

There’s a lot of information about college transition and success. Yet, most are not practical and don’t come from those involved in college. So, what are some of the simple and over looked college succes tips? I warn you that none of these college success tips are complicated. Yet, as I've stated before, 'simple doesn't mean easy.' Most are going …

1
Mastering Crisis Response with Jason 18:31

2M ago18:31

18:31

Parenting comes with challenges. If you're parenting neurodivergents like children, teens, and young adults who are autistic, ADHDers, or have learning differences, those challenges can quickly turn into regular crises. In this episode, Jason discusses the personal and developmental aspects of responding to crises, contrasting it with professional …

1
Ep. 80 Self-advocacy for invisible disabilities. 15:57

2M ago15:57

15:57

I’ve said it before. K-12 does a horrible job of teaching self-advocacy. I find it tragic and neglectful that it’s not taught. A ton of people advocate for it, emphasize it, and even set goals for it. But they all get it wrong. What’s the best way to teach it and what do you need to do for your student to learn to self-advocate? Here are eight epis…

1
Nurturing Independence with Debbie 23:06

2M ago23:06

23:06

Independence isn't an age (18) or destination, it's having the skills to self-govern, self-advocate, and get needs met in healthy ways. Nurturing independence is important for toddlers to teens to twenty-somethings, and our autistic and neurodivergent young people often need more support. Providing either too much or too little support can impede d…

1
Let’s talk podcasts: Suggestions for kids with learning and thinking differences 11:41

2M ago11:41

11:41

In this episode of In It, Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek suggest podcasts that are ideal for kids with learning and thinking differences. These shows are also great for any kid. To find a transcript for this episode, visit the episode page at Understood. We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at init@understood.org. Their suggestions incl…

1
Ep. 79 5 Steps to College Preparation. 16:40

2M ago16:40

16:40

Being prepared and preparing your student for college are shared goals. The better they are prepared, the less regret you have and possibly less stress. How do you get your senior with a hidden disability prepared to make the shift to college? For students with ADHD, learning disabilities, dyslexia, and mental health conditions, there is a lot more…

1
What do we lose and what do we gain by calling addiction a disease? 50:10

2M ago50:10

50:10

The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines addiction as a “chronic disease” occurring in the brain – Many believe this definition can help to reduce stigma. But, is it helpful in the care of individual patients? In this episode we discuss what we gain and what we lose when we speak of people with addiction as having “diseased brains.” The view of…

1
Ep. 78 My Parental Regrets for College Transition. 15:38

2M ago15:38

15:38

There's a lot with college transition. As a parent who's done this twice already, I can tell you that there are always things you wish you did or said differently. Yep, I've been on a college campus for a minute for sure, but that does not mean I did everything right. I made mistakes. Not happy about it, but I get to pass on my experiences and less…

1
Talking about neurodivergence and gender identity 25:29

3M ago25:29

25:29

Many people who learn and think differently are also on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. This can be a lot for kids—and their families—to navigate. In this episode of In It, Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek talk to Kade Friedman. Kade is the Director of Education for PINE, the Program for Inclusion and Neurodiversity Education. Kade identifies as non-binar…

1
Ep. 77 Your Guide from High School to College. 16:11

3M ago16:11

16:11

Guide your teen from high school to college with these 10 episodes. I have 10 of the most important podcast episodes all to help you and your student. It's a list of the college transition essential informaiton. For students with hidden disabilities, it can be a game changer. I can guarantee this information was not in your IEP or 504 plan or trans…

1
Ep. 76 Dad’s Role In College Transition. 20:53

3M ago20:53

20:53

Dad's you have a special role to play in your student's college journey and self-advocacy. It's unlike any other role because your connection to your student is uniqe and special. What you bring to the plate is needed for your student's college success and a better college transition. Student's with disabilites like ADHD, learning disabilities, and…

1
Narcissism & Autism with Jason 10:31

3M ago10:31

10:31

Autism is often confused with narcissism. Autistic traits are often misinterpreted as narcissistic. In this episode Jason delves into the complex relationship between autism and narcissism, highlighting the unique ways in which self-centeredness manifests in individuals on the autism spectrum. By exploring the neurological differences that contribu…

1
An expert’s guide to summer screen time 32:03

3M ago32:03

32:03

Breaks from school are prime time for screen time. But how much screen time is too much? And what can we do about it? Is screen time ever a good thing? In this episode of “In It,” Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek talk to Dr. Devorah Heitner. Devorah is the author of two books: Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World a…

1
Ep. 75 College Transition Tips: 3 Things To Do Now Before High School Graduation. 16:04

3M ago16:04

16:04

May is all about getting ready before graduation. Today is about the three things you and your student need to do before they graduate. For students with hidden disabilities like ADHD, learning disabilities, and mental helath conditions, there's a bit more to do before college starts. What are those three things and how do they help with college tr…

1
Can we learn and practice medicine well in a system that is so ill? 51:26

3M ago51:26

51:26

In his book, The Present Illness, American Health Care and Its Afflictions, physician and historian Martin Shapiro, MD, PhD, MPH presents a scathing critique of a profession suffused with status, money, and power. At the same time, he also describes many deeply caring and rewarding patient care experiences, his own and those of colleagues. But thes…

1
Ep. 74 Six College Transition Conversations to Have Now 18:35

3M ago18:35

18:35

Getting prepared for college is a huge task. Theres's not just the parctical stuff like bedding, snacks, food, mini-fridge etc. There is also the adult topics to discuss. As a parent of a college student, these topics are critical to have. Why? No regrets. None at all. Even if something happens, which I pray it doesn't, at least you know, as a pare…

1
Social media and parenting: How much is too much? 17:03

4M ago17:03

17:03

Many parents usually try to avoid sharing too much information about their kids on social media. But many parents also want to share cute pictures, funny stories, or their kids’ accomplishments. And online communities can be great places to share stories or trade parenting tips. It can be tricky to tell where to draw the line — how much is too much…

1
Ep. 73 College Transition Tips for Parents: 5 Valuable College Policies Your Student Needs To Know 17:13

4M ago17:13

17:13

This is the second in a series this month all about copllege transition tips for parents and getting prepared. College transition is hard especially for students with ADHD, learning disabilities, and mental health conditions. Getting disability accommodations is vital as well as maintaining time management and mental wellbeing. What if something go…

1
Time Blindness and It's Complexities with Jason 14:02

3M ago14:02

14:02

The disabling effects of time blindness in neurodivergent individuals are often underestimated, overshadowed by more apparent symptoms. This common but often misunderstood trait in neurodivergent individuals, can have profound consequences on their daily lives and future prospects. Unlike mere forgetfulness or distraction, time blindness presents a…

1
Ep. 72 College Success: Revealing the Top 3 Areas You Need to Know 17:32

4M ago17:32

17:32

accessingcollege.com/college-success-revealing-the-top-3-areas-you-need-to-know/May is College Prep month and I’m kicking it off with an episode to help guide you and your student. If you could only pick three things that would make every student with a hidden disability successful in college, what three things would you pick? If you’ve listened to…

1
Developmental Focus: Why It's Important with Debbie 19:34

4M ago19:34

19:34

Have you ever felt frustrated because you couldn't get your autistic or neurodivergent child, teen, or young adult to do something desirable or stop doing something undesirable? You've tried so many things and it's not working. Many parents and people working with young people get stuck in negative behavioral focused patterns. On today's episode of…

1
An attorney’s advice on special education disputes 29:44

4M ago29:44

29:44

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…

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