Skip to content

Showing results for:"COVID-19"

  • How to ask for COVID-19 accommodations at work

    Diabetes. Anxiety. HIV infection. Autism. These are only a few examples of the conditions that may count as a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you have a disability, you may be protected by the ADA. Qualified workers can use this law to ask for coronavirus accommodation

  • How I learned to be OK with things just being OK

    Like many parents, I wasnt sure how things would turn out when the coronavirus pandemic forced schools to close. But here I am. I figured learning online would be a lot for most kids but especially for my 10-year-old son who has trouble with sensory processing. The closures created changes to the d

  • Corona versus my college fall semester

    Like every other college student, this past spring semester I started to make arrangements for the coming fall. I made my class schedule, and I tried to decide where I wanted to live (on or off campus). But I had no idea that in a short time, the world would be hit with a global pandemic. Since coro

  • School health and safety challenges for kids who learn and think differently

    As schools continue to reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic, health and safety rules may be hard for kids to follow. Wearing a mask all day? Social distancing? Find out which routines may be extra hard for kids who learn and think differently and how to help.

  • Will my child bounce back from the coronavirus crisis?

    With several months of the coronavirus crisis behind us and more uncertainty and stress ahead, life is tough right now for kids of all ages. Many parents seeing their children experiencing anxiety, sadness, and behavior challenges are wondering how all of this will affect kids in the long term. Can

  • The pandemic has shown me what my daughters can handle

    Its been a whirlwind of a year, to say the least. Were now past the one-year mark of when the pandemic first hit. And while the lessons have poured in, so have the blessings. Finding our wins As a working mom, Ive noticed just how much Ive grown. Im now a full-time business owner, and I have the qu

  • The Opportunity Gap

    Omicron, special education, and marginalized communities

    The new Omicron variant of COVID-19 is hitting schools. The hosts discuss the impact on students and on special education services. Schools are reeling from the impact of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. But what does it mean for kids with learning and thinking differences? How does it impact speci

  • 3 helpful articles for job hunting during the coronavirus pandemic

    Finding a job can be stressful enough on its own. And now that stress has been amplified by a global pandemic. We could all just vent about how hard it is, but that would serve no purpose. Instead, I want to share three articles that I found useful to help with the uncertainty and stress of the job

  • Distance learning toolkit: Key practices to support students who learn differently

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, distance learning has been a challenge for many educators, families, and students. That includes the 1in5 students who learn differently. Students who struggle academically or who typically get individual support in school are more likely to fall behind during distance

  • How my students’ strengths have shined

    The pandemic brings new challenges to learning, especially for kids who learn and think differently. But kids are showing strength and resilience during the pandemic. Theyre even developing new strengths as they work through challenges. Kids dont always see these strengths in themselves especially w

  • Helping students cope with change and disruption

    By Lara Thibodeau and Nancy Rappaport Our country, our schools, and our students are facing incredible adversity right now. The COVID-19 pandemic has already produced the largest disturbance our school system has ever seen. Schools shut their doors to in-person learning this spring, quickly enterin

  • How to rebuild self-esteem in the new school year

    Kids across the United State have experienced a major academic slide since COVID began. But certain student groups have lost ground more than others. That includes kids with learning challenges. Starting a new school year being behind can be hard for kids whove faced setbacks and worked hard to imp

  • 6 worries families have about this year’s back-to-school

    When the coronavirus pandemic began, many school buildings closed abruptly. Kids started distance learning. And families got used to the fact that kids werent going back to physical schools until at least the fall. But back-to-school season is coming up, and some families still dont know where and

  • The weekly highlight: Accessible ways to take action against racism

    June 26, 2020 We know that 2020 has been a stressful year for employers, employees, and job seekers. So heres a snapshot of something weve found useful or motivating. Whether its a tip for how to stay on top of work, or something to take your mind off the news, we hope itll be a positive and helpful

  • 4 ways workplace inclusion has changed with the rise of remote work

    Discover how the pandemic sped up the adoption of disability practices. Learn about four shifts in workplace inclusion, such as enhanced accessibility features and flexible schedules.

  • The education crisis is also a growing epidemic

    Today, we celebrate International Day of Education and its theme of Changing Course, Transforming Education. Never has this been more pertinent, particularly as the multiple impacts of Omicron on school systems, teachers, parents, and kids create a domino effect throughout the country. Earlier this

  • Do kids with an IEP have to go back to in-person school this fall?

    Our local public school is going back to in-person instruction this fall. My child has an IEP, and I dont want to send my child back because Im worried about the coronavirus. What are my options? Its perfectly normal to be worried about coronavirus and your child being indoors with teachers and oth

  • Social distancing challenges: Tips to help kids at school

    Social distancing at school is hard for many kids. The rules can be tricky to follow especially when theyre always changing. Currently, the CDC recommends 3feet of distance in school. (In some cases they still recommend 6feet.) Find out why social distancing rules can be hard for kids who learn and

  • Why workplace disability inclusion matters now more than ever

    The COVID-19 pandemic has created a profound shift in workplaces across the United States and the world. Because weve always done it that way is suddenly out the window. Instead, much of the American workforce has had to get creative and find new ways of working. In the language of workplace disabil

  • This back-to-school season, Understood is supporting family-educator relationships

    September 2020 Whether students return to school in person or continue with distance learning, this year its vital for families and educators to work together to support children who learn and think differently. As students who learn and think differently enter a school year unlike any before, Under

  • How to find out if kids really had an academic slide

    School and learning looked different for most kids during the pandemic. Some kids experienced more stress and anxiety, making it harder to learn. And many kids who get special education services had disruptions in services or supports. Academic slide, or COVID slide, is top of mind for lots of pare

  • Disability Inclusion Basics: Free online training course

    - Take these free online training courses to learn about workplace disability inclusion. - The trainings are open to all who want to learn about disability inclusion. - Disability inclusion can build flexible thinking to help everyone thrive at work. The pandemic has changed the world of work f

  • The weekly highlight: Building workplace inclusion and supporting Black employees

    June 18, 2020 We know that 2020 has been a stressful year for employers, employees, and job seekers. So heres a snapshot of something weve found useful or motivating. Whether its a tip for how to stay on top of work, or something to take your mind off the news, we hope itll be a positive and helpful

  • Hannah Gadsby’s “Douglas” and a later-in-life autism diagnosis

    We know that 2020 has been a stressful year for employers, employees, and job seekers. So heres a snapshot of something weve found useful or motivating. Whether its a tip for how to stay on top of work, or something to take your mind off the news, we hope itll be a positive and helpful way to round

  • Understood study reveals academic, emotional, and financial realities and implications of remote learning

    Nearly 60% of Parents of Children with Learning and Thinking Differences Say Children Year Behind and May Never Catch Up vs. Just 16% of Typical Parents Parents Report Children with Learning and Thinking Differences Three Times Likely to Experience Depression Due to Remote Learning 43% of All Parent

  • Rebuilding With Purpose: Understood’s Predictions for 2021

    December 2020 If nothing else, this year has confirmed that many of the old ways of doing things wont work moving forward. Weve witnessed the countless ways people who are considered different, whether because of how they look, learn, or think, are being left behindand will fall further behind if we

  • Privacy concerns about distance learning

    With so many students now at home, many schools are scrambling to provide the best possible education for their students. Its obviously critical for students to continue to progress, but at the same time, schools should be mindful of the privacy issues raised by some online platforms. Online learnin

  • Dear families and educators: Why parent-teacher communication is more important than ever

    Dear Families and Educators, As a parent, spouse of an educator, and former teacher myself, I could never have imagined a school year starting like this one. None of us could. We never expected masks to cover up smiles behind first-day-of-school photos. We never expected that schools would remain cl

  • 4 myths — and facts — about working from home

    Get the facts about working from home. Find out why it’s an important accessibility tool for many employees with disabilities.

  • This Moment Matters. Black Lives Matter.

    These are painful times. The impact of COVID-19 on communities of color, the senseless deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and so many other Black Americans, and the protests in Minneapolis and around the world have left our team upset, angry, and hurt. Black lives matter, and our