Dr. Douglas Sims is a scientist, entrepreneur, author, and learning disability advocate. Dr. Sims discusses their experience in school with dyslexia and ADHD, and shares how they harnessed their strengths to reach success. 

Dr. Rachel Rubin is an internationally-recognized college admissions expert, and the founder of Spark Admissions. In this episode, Dr. Rubin discusses the latest trends in college admissions, how students with LD can prepare, disclosing a learning disability in an application, and more!

Jeremy Didier is an ADHD coach, parent, immediate past president of CHADD's board of directors, a clinical social worker, and addiction counselor. Jeremy explains the importance of recognizing ADHD, shares how parents can support their neurodivergent children, and discusses her own ADHD diagnosis that came later in life. 

Katrina Huels, founder and CEO of Applied Harmony, discusses how burnout can impact educators and administrators. 

Breanna Raborn is a speech language pathologist specializing in pediatric private practice. Breanna discusses NVLD, and how speech language pathologists can help improve social communication and understanding of receptive and expressive language. 

Ryan Buggy of The Reading League is a PhD student in cognitive psychology, and is currently using eye tracking technology to study how the brain processes language. Ryan discusses the cognitive processes that impact reading and language and what the latest eye-tracking research can tell us about how we read. Based on this research, Ryan also shares best practices for educators and practitioners. 

Mentioned in the episode:

The Road to Running Records

The Reading League Journal: Measure What Matters

ACT: Reading Between the Lines

Carlin Graveline Ku discusses developmental language disorder, and shares how language skills and reading skills intersect. Carlin explains why DLD is hard to identify, and the importance of understanding the root cause of difficulties in reading. 

Read Untangling DLD and Dyslexia 

Dr. Sarah Oberle and Mitch Weathers, co-authors of “Executive Functions for Every K-3 Classroom: Promoting Self-Regulation for a Strong Start” discuss the increased need of support in working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility in K-3 students, and the unique considerations and strategies needed for the primary population. 

Carolyn Skowron discusses her lived experience with Nonverbal Learning Disability, which can impact visual-spatial abilities and social abilities. Carolyn shares advice, talks about the obstacles and social-emotional challenges that those with NVLD face, and more!

Visit Carolyn’s website: https://www.carolynsophia.com/unbreakable 

Zero Barriers in STEM Education is a new, free educational resource from the Smithsonian Science Education Center that gets students to investigate barriers to accessibility in their community by using social science tools. 

Khadijah Thibodeaux, a Senior Science Curriculum Developer at the Smithsonian Science Education Center, shares the process of creating the guide, which includes over 60 perspectives from individuals with disabilities and those most impacted by barriers to accessibility. 

Jen Reichwage, a 7th and 8th grade science teacher who implemented the guide in her classroom, shares how Zero Barriers guided her students to recognize obstacles to accessibility everywhere, and led to them making positive changes in their community. 

Learn more about Zero Barriers at: https://ssec.si.edu/zero-barriers-guide