Understood.org — a resource for the 70 million
people with learning and thinking differences like ADHD and dyslexia — today released a study about the
misconceptions and stigmas that come with children's learning and thinking
differences (LTDs), and how these factor into parents' support, or lack
thereof. The Understood.org Neurodiversity and Stigma Study found that 90% of
parents believe there are children with LTDs, yet more than half (55%) of those
with neurodivergent children say they are afraid to tell others about their
child's LTD because of the associated biases. Facing stigmas and biases
alone can greatly affect children's mental health, as 69% of parents of kids
with LTDs say that the stigma associated negatively impacts their child's mental health and well-being — but parents
who get involved can be the reason a child thrives.
55% of parents with neurodivergent kids are
afraid to tell others about their child's LTD because of stigma.
To combat the stigmas around LTDs and urge parents to support their children
who face them, Understood.org today introduces its "Be the Reason" campaign. It launches with a
"Be the Reason" film, featured on understood.org/BeTheReason and in ads across digital
platforms. The film centers on a child's perspective of living with an LTD when
her differences go ignored. Additionally, a #YouCanBeTheReason social media
challenge, led by social media influencers The Holderness Family, also kicked off May 19th on TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram. This challenge asks parents to share how
they've been the reason their child thrives.
"Our extensive research highlights the realities of the stigmas that
accompany learning and thinking differences, and the work that we need to do to
help parents recognize and support their child's neurodivergence," says
Nathan Friedman, Understood.org's co-president and chief marketing officer.
"'Be the Reason' shows the impact, through their child's eyes, in an effort
to convince the 6 million skeptical parents to become supporters, and to engage
with their kids so they have the opportunity to thrive."
The #YouCanBeTheReason social challenge features a song by
Penn Holderness of The Holderness Family about his personal experiences of
growing up with ADHD and how his family's help made a difference.
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Holderness says, "As a kid growing up with ADHD, I know firsthand how
impactful your family's understanding and support can be when it comes to
navigating the stigmas and challenges associated with it. Understood.org's 'Be
the Reason' social challenge is meaningful to me because it can increase
awareness and share how important it is for families to help kids navigate the
challenges that come with learning differences. It's also a pretty fun way for
parents to show how #YouCanBeTheReason by supporting your kids in big and small
ways."
The "Be the Reason" film, starring Miya Kofo and featuring a
neurodiverse cast, will live on understood.org/BeTheReason, along with other campaign
resources such as a parent activity kit from Understood, stories from children
whose parents have "been the reason" for them, and other fun and
informative activities for parents and kids. The activity kit includes actionable
tips, activities, and conversation starters for parents to use to engage with
their child around challenges they may be facing.
Other key findings from Understood.org's research:
- Parents may think that they know more about LTDs than
they actually do.
- 74% of parents of neurotypical children said they were
somewhat or very in-the-know about LTDs, but only 38% personally knew
someone with an LTD (Understood.org and MarketCast Impact Study).
- Stigmas heavily influence their beliefs. About one-third of parents believe that the school
system contributes to a child's neurodivergence.
- This hinders parental support. Three-quarters of parents of kids with LTDs
believe others will judge their kids unfairly if their LTD is
acknowledged, which can impact kids' mental health.
- 71% of parents of kids with LTDs say their kids have
experienced more anxiety about attending class compared to year one of
the pandemic.
- Parent support is key. For parents of kids with LTDs who are involved
and engaged around their kids' challenges, 80% report their child's lives
have improved.
For more of the research findings, visit the Understood Media Center.
"Critical first steps for parents are to initiate a conversation with
their child about the challenges they're facing, ask how they're feeling, and
learn where they can help so the child knows they have support," says Dr.
Andrew Kahn, Understood.org expert of psychology and learning. "Then
parents can begin the next steps of communicating with teachers or health care
providers about their child's needs and sharing their observations of any
trends that can guide their individualized care. But that initial engagement
and understanding are key."
Unless otherwise noted, the research cited above is from Understood.org's
Neurodiversity and Stigma Study, which surveyed 1,500 parents of both
neurotypical children and those with LTDs across the U.S. (April 2022). In
addition to this latest study, Understood.org worked with MarketCast, a leader
in youth and young adult research, in 2021 to conduct Understood.org and
MarketCast's Impact Study (2021). This multiwave study surveyed ~1,000 U.S.
parents of neurotypical kids, kids with LTDs whose parents did not know
Understood.org, and kids with learning differences whose parents used
Understood.org once or more in the last six months. Both studies are nationally
representative. Full data can be found in the Understood Media Center.
For more information on the "Be the Reason" campaign and to access
the parent activity kit, visit understood.org/BeTheReason. To engage in the social media
challenge, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram users are encouraged to share their
story with the hashtag #YouCanBeTheReason.
Understood.org
is a resource for those who learn and think differently. Each year, we help
more than 20 million people discover their potential, learn how to take
control, find community, and stay on a positive path along each stage of life's
journey. When others join this journey, and people are broadly embraced,
everyone thrives. Understood.org is a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation
based in New York. For more information, to donate, or to become a partner,
visit u.org/media and follow us on Twitter @UnderstoodOrg.
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