Research and surveys
Our research reveals insights and data that help us and others empower the 1 in 5 people who learn and think differently.
As children around the country return to school in coming months, the new "Back-to-School Study" conducted by Understood.org and The Harris Poll found that enthusiasm for the back-to-school season differs significantly between parents.
The Understood.org “Neurodiversity and Social Media Study,” conducted with The Harris Poll, found that while Americans think social media helps build awareness and community around learning and thinking differences like ADHD and dyslexia, it can also play a role in spreading misinformation and perpetuating stigmas.
The Understood.org Neurodiversity and Stigma Study found that while a majority of parents believe learning and thinking differences are real, parents still believe in stigmas and false narratives around these disabilities. These stigmas negatively impact children’s mental health and often prevent parents from taking action to support their kids.
As children around the country return to school, the new Back to School Study by Understood and UnidosUS, the largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., finds that teachers and parents predict increased academic, mental health, and social and emotional challenges for learning.
The comprehensive study conducted by Understood and YouGov in the Summer of 2020 reveals that parents are more aware of the challenges their child faces in school than before the pandemic.
Explore Understood’s new toolkit that gives teachers actionable tools to understand IEPs: the laws, definitions, processes, and implementation. The toolkit was prepared with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.