Podcast artwork thumbnail for Opportunity Gap: For Families Navigating Special Education

Opportunity Gap: For Families Navigating Special Education

Julian Saavedra

Booking Overview

This podcast gives parents practical, expert-backed guidance for navigating special education—covering how ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning differences intersect with school access and advocacy. It’s a strong booking target for education policy, special ed practice, and parent-facing experts who can translate research into actionable advice.

Metrics

Episodes: 105

Frequency: Irregular

Rating: 5.0/5.0

Estimated listeners: 100 - 1,000

Gender skew: Neutral

Listener location: USA

Instagram: 100.0k followers

Contact Information

Publicly listed emails

opportunitygap@understood.org

Looking for the right person? Join Podseeker to find direct host and producer contacts and manage your podcast outreach.

Host

Julian Saavedra - Assistant principal and father of two, who shares real stories, expert insights, and practical strategies to help families advocate for their children within the education system.

Booking Intelligence

Booking Requirements

medium
Typical Credentials:  
Education/special education researchers and university lecturers; clinicians or education specialists with expertise in early childhood development, ADHD/dyslexia, and IEP/placement practices; professionals who can provide evidence-based guidance for parents.
Required Achievements:  
Academic teaching/research roles in early childhood and special education, Subject-matter expertise tied to IEPs, school placement, and learning differences

Recent Guest Discussions

Dr. Imani Irving-Perez - Grade Retention/redshirting Factors Including Social-emotional Development, Academic Readiness, And Behavior; What Questions To Ask Schools; Research-based Decision-making For Kindergarten/grade Placement.

Recent Topics

Special Education, Disability, Iep, Advocacy, Adhd

Episodes

Here's the recent few episodes on
Opportunity Gap: For Families Navigating Special Education
:

Five seasons of “Opportunity Gap,” and what we learned along the way

September 30, 2026

After five seasons, “Opportunity Gap” is ending. In this final episode, host Julian talks with Understood’s Gretchen Vierstra. Together, they look back at the guests and lessons that shaped the show, from a conversation about the school-to-prison pipeline to tips for not rushing in to fix things for your child.But don’t worry. The show may be ending, but you can still find every episode and free resource at Understood.org.For more on this topicListen: What is the school-to-prison pipeline?&nb...

Should you hold your child back a year? What parents need to know

May 27, 2026

If your child doesn’t seem ready for kindergarten or the next grade, what should you do? What if the school is suggesting that your child stay back?  In this episode, we break down the real factors behind redshirting and grade retention. Guest Dr. Imani Irving-Perez, a lecturer on early childhood and special education, shares what to consider. She talks about social-emotional development, academic readiness, behavior, and more. You’ll learn what questions to ask schools, what the research say...

The reasons kids shut down before summer break

May 13, 2026

As the school year winds down, many kids start to burn out. They might lose motivation, feel big emotions, or struggle to follow their usual routines. In this episode, you’ll learn why behaviors like shutdowns and meltdowns are signals, not problems, and what to do about them. Plus, get tips to lower stress levels, reset after tough moments, and help your child finish the year strong. For more on this topic  Listen: What is a “good summer” for kids with learning disabilities? Listen: How t...

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Frequently asked questions

Here's some frequently asked questions for
Opportunity Gap: For Families Navigating Special Education
:

How do I get in touch with Opportunity Gap: For Families Navigating Special Education?

Opportunity Gap: For Families Navigating Special Education is hosted by Julian Saavedra. Its publicly listed email is opportunitygap@understood.org. For guest bookings, the host or producer is usually the best person to reach. Podseeker helps you find direct host and producer contacts and pitch from your own inbox.

What is the email for Opportunity Gap: For Families Navigating Special Education?

The publicly listed email for Opportunity Gap: For Families Navigating Special Education: opportunitygap@understood.org.

How many listeners does Opportunity Gap: For Families Navigating Special Education have?

Podseeker estimates Opportunity Gap: For Families Navigating Special Education reaches 100 to 1,000 listeners per episode. Only the publisher has exact numbers.

Who is an ideal guest for Opportunity Gap: For Families Navigating Special Education?

Opportunity Gap: For Families Navigating Special Education typically books rising experts. Typical guest background: Education/special education researchers and university lecturers; clinicians or education specialists with expertise in early childhood development, ADHD/dyslexia, and IEP/placement practices; professionals who can provide evidence-based guidance for parents. Common among recent guests: Academic teaching/research roles in early childhood and special education; Subject-matter expertise tied to IEPs, school placement, and learning differences. Recent guests include Dr. Imani Irving-Perez.

How hard is it to get booked on Opportunity Gap: For Families Navigating Special Education?

Medium. Guests usually need solid credentials in the topic and an idea that fits the show.

What topics does Opportunity Gap: For Families Navigating Special Education cover?

Recent episodes cover Special Education, Disability, Iep, Advocacy, and Adhd. Pitch an idea tied to one of these topics and mention a recent episode.

Publicly listed emails

opportunitygap@understood.org

Looking for the right person? Join Podseeker to find direct host and producer contacts and manage your podcast outreach.

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