News Roundup: 8 Stories to Inspire You in July

Celebrate summer with inspiring stories about people who learn and think differently. Here are the articles and videos the Understood team loved that were posted in June.

1. Primetime TV gets real about ADHD. Since late May, CW’s Jane the Virgin has focused on parenting a child with ADHD. This telenovela-style show manages to capture many nuances of ADHD. From working with teachers to exploring treatment options, Jane tries to find the best solution for her son. Watch the full episodes online, starting with Ep. 510 when Mateo is diagnosed with ADHD.

2. The jeweler with dyslexia. From a young age, Blaine Lewis struggled with reading. So instead of going to college, he started a career in metalworking. Watch this inspiring story below about how he discovered his strengths as a goldsmith. Hungry for more success stories? Check out these elected officials who learn and think differently, or other new videos on Understood’s YouTube channel.

3. Dyslexia’s upside. Like many parents, CNN’s Robyn Curnow didn’t realize she had dyslexia until her child was diagnosed with it. She writes a moving story about this revelation. It not only helped Curnow make sense of her own struggles growing up, it also helped her realize “that many things I was good at were also because of dyslexia.”

Want more stories about journalists who struggled with reading and spelling? Watch this inspiring video about ABC’s Byron Pitts.

4. Chewing on ADHD. Isabelle O’Carroll writes in Bon Appétit about how her ADHD helps her in the kitchen. “My impulsivity, creativity, and ability to make connections have guided me through hundreds—probably thousands—of improvised dishes,” she says. “From the first Potato Waffle I popped into the toaster, cooking was my playground.”

5. The graduate. Aubrey Robinson was bullied as a kid and didn’t find out until middle school that she has dyscalculia. But with hard work and the help of her teachers, she became an honor roll student and will start college in the fall. Her advice to struggling students: “Surround yourself with people who care about you.”

6. Vacationing with ADHD. How to ADHD’s Jessica McCabe offers seven tips on how to make your next vacation awesome. The YouTuber has created lots of great videos about ADHD, including one made in partnership with Understood on the best ways to describe ADHD.

7. A smoother transition to college. One goal of the RISE Act is to make it easier to get college accommodations. This bipartisan legislation was introduced in late May. If passed, it would also ensure that students have the information they need to choose the right school.

8. Making history. Rachel Barcellona is the first contestant with autism to compete for Miss Florida, which is part of the Miss America beauty pageant system. The college junior also has dyscalculia and dyspraxia. “I want to use my voice to inspire hope to others,” she said. “Awareness is OK, but we need acceptance.”

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