Behind the impactMaking “Through My Eyes”

Through My Eyes helps you see the world the way kids with ADHD, dyslexia, and dyscalculia do. It’s an immersive experience created with real kids and shaped by expert insights to help people understand what it’s like to learn and think differently.

Here’s how we made Through My Eyes — and how support from people like you helps us create free tools that turn understanding into action.

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Co-created with kids

Meet Caris, Pedro, and Francesca! Caris has dyslexia, Pedro has ADHD, and Francesca has dyscalculia. These three kids bravely and authentically shared their personal stories with us at Understood.org to help build the Through My Eyes experience.

^{Left to right: Caris, Pedro, Francesca}

For three months, our team of designers, producers, and experts met with each child and their family. We listened to how their learning difference affects them at school, at home, and in daily life. Then we used their stories to create the interactive simulations.

Our production team visited the kids in their hometowns to follow a day in each of their lives. We got ready for school with them. We went to school with them. And we tagged along during their extracurriculars. We also got to meet with their supportive and loving families.

^{Pictured: Caris and her family at their home in California.}

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Built with expert guidance

To make sure we got this right, we met with many experts throughout the nine-month process. They helped us show each child’s experience in an honest way. And they made sure the simulations reflect common signs of ADHD, dyslexia, and dyscalculia.

Meet the experts who helped bring this experience to life:

Andrew Kahn, PsyD
Clinical psychologist
Andrew Kahn is a licensed psychologist with more than 25 years of experience. At Understood, he brings deep expertise in ADHD, learning differences, and executive function.
Shivohn N. García, PhD
Equity researcher
Shivohn García is an equity researcher who has spent years supporting diverse students in public schools and colleges. She brings a strong understanding of the challenges many students and educators face.
Christina Cipriano, PhD, MEd
Social-emotional learning expert
Christina Cipriano is a developmental and educational psychologist at the Yale Child Study Center. Her work focuses on creating equitable and inclusive social-emotional learning.
Rayma Griffin, MA, MEd
Eagle Hill School co-founder
Rayma Griffin is an education consultant with 40 years of experience working with children who have learning disabilities and ADHD. She brings decades of leadership and advocacy in special education.
Julian Saavedra, MA
Assistant high school principal
Julian Saavedra is an assistant principal in Philadelphia with 15 years of teaching experience. His work centers on social-emotional learning, cultural diversity, and empowering students.
Juliana Urtubey, NBCT, MA
Multilingual special educator
Juliana Urtubey, the 2021 National Teacher of the Year, is a multilingual special educator who has built schoolwide support systems for diverse learners. She also serves on the President’s Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity.
Kate Garcia, MEd
Special education teacher
Kate Garcia is a longtime special education teacher dedicated to supporting students with a wide range of learning and behavioral needs. She brings practical classroom insight and a passion for inclusive learning.

What people are saying

“It was overwhelming in the best way, because it helped me better understand what some of my students might be going through. I think this kind of experience could be so valuable to use during a teacher [professional development] or even share with parents ... so they can better understand what their children are facing.”
—Andrea, experienced K–12 educator and graduate student at Fairfield University
“This is such an amazing tool and I’m sharing it with my child’s therapy team. Thank you for creating something that helps give a qualitative perspective on what [kids who learn and think differently] struggle with.”
—Jeanine, mother
“You get to really realize ... this is a kid who obviously struggles with some things in the classroom, and this is what it’s like for them.”
—Educator

Stories that make a difference

We surveyed 154 parents and 153 educators after they’d used Through My Eyes. Here’s what we learned.

- 35% of parents and educators felt more informed about learning and thinking differences.
- 37% of parents and educators felt more confident speaking about learning and thinking differences.
- 47% of parents and educators increased their knowledge of ADHD.
- 50% of parents and educators more strongly believed that learning and thinking differences can lead to positive gains, like personal growth.
- 50% of parents and educators felt more empathy for individuals with learning and thinking differences.
- 46% of parents and educators wanted to do more to advocate for individuals with learning and thinking differences.
- 8 out of 10 parents and educators found the downloadable resources were effective in meeting their needs to support individuals with learning and thinking differences.
- 3 out of 4 parents felt the downloadable resources were effective in meeting their needs to support communication — with their child or co-parent — about learning and thinking differences.
- 8 out of 10 educators said the professional development was effective in meeting their needs to support kids with learning and thinking differences.
- 9 out of 10 educators said the downloadable middle school lesson plan was effective in meeting their needs to support kids with learning and thinking differences.

^Methodology:^{This survey was conducted online within the United States by Understood.org from August 6 to September 3, 2025, among two sample groups: 154 parents of children 18 years or younger who live with their parents at least part-time and 153 educators in K–12 classrooms. All data presented here have a confidence level of 95%.}

In the news

Understood.org unveils “Through My Eyes” [Press release]
Helping neurodivergent students succeed in school [Fox19 Cincinnati]
A new way to see through the eyes of children with disabilities [SmartBrief]
3 ways we’re helping make classrooms more accessible [Google Blog]
A world of difference: “Building bridges of understanding” [PBS]

Thanks to our partners

Through My Eyes was made possible through a grant awarded by Oak Foundation and support from InnovateEDU and Split This Rock. Platform simulations were designed and developed by Make Me Pulse.

Logos for Oak Foundation, makemepulse, InnovateEDU, and Split This Rock

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As a nonprofit, Understood.org relies on donations to keep powerful tools like this free and accessible for all. Your gift helps create more resources that provide lifelong support for kids with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD, dyslexia, and dyscalculia.