Opportunity Gap: For Families Navigating Special Education
BookmarkUnderstood.org, Julian Saavedra
Opportunity Gap: For Families Navigating Special Education is a kids podcast hosted by Understood.org, Julian Saavedra. It has 100 episodes, with the latest published April 2026.
Navigating the education system can be overwhelming for families whose children have ADHD, dyslexia, or other learning and thinking differences. Opportunity Gap is a podcast that sheds light on the real challenges families face when trying to get the right support for their kids. On this show, we explore how identity, race, disability, and access to resources can make the education journey more challenging — and what parents can do about it. Join host Julian Saavedra, an assistant principal and father of two, as he shares real stories, expert insights, and practical strategies to help you advocate for your child.
kids ·en ·100 episodes
ADHD and how eating affects focus for kids
The school programs giving kids a real advantage
Help kids face failure without stepping in to fix it
Do kids really need homework?
Introducing Everyone Gets a Juice Box
Top 5 IEP meeting tips from a parent advocate
The mid-year reset: How parents can help kids finish the school year strong
Phone-free classrooms: What happens when devices disappear
School refusal vs. sick days: What’s really going on?
How “bad behavior” may signal anxiety in kids with ADHD
Is special education in crisis? Federal layoffs explained
What to do when parent-teacher relationships go wrong
Trouble with reading? Is it dyslexia?
How to talk to your child about microaggressions in the classroom
Parent-teacher conference tips: What to say and ask
Kids struggling with math? It could be dyscalculia
What is an “opportunity gap”? (and how it impacts kids)
Ask Me Anything: Your back-to-school questions answered
Julian Saavedra talks supporting your child on The Mama’s Den podcast
Best of: Unpacking viral ADHD myths on social media with Dr. Kristin Carothers
What is a “good summer” for kids with learning disabilities?
8 key special education terms parents should know
What you need to know about federal funding for special education
What to do when kids are feeling depressed or anxious
When dyslexia is missed: The impact on students of color
Navigating your child’s diagnosis: Self-care tips for parents
4 tips to help kids cope with uncertainty and anxiety
How to build strong parent-child bonds
The hard truth about racism in special education: Part 2
The hard truth about racism in special education: Part 1
The power of culturally responsive teaching
How to get over the “mid-year slump”
What families wish you knew about learning disabilities
Building strong reading skills in kids
How I’d parent my ADHD kids differently
Helping kids navigate the holiday season
How I’m navigating my child’s two diagnoses
Game on! Teaching kids sportsmanship
What to do after a parent-teacher conference
How to build a supportive village for kids
Navigating fatherhood with ADHD
What to do when school supports fall short
How to teach kids independence
Empowering kids for school success
How to make summer learning fun
Parenting Behavior: What is behavior?
Creating teachable moments
Understanding preschool services
Understood Explains IEPs: Special education terms and your legal rights
IEPs and English language learners
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