Most of us tend to associate the term “twice-exceptional ” with quirky geniuses, or exceptionally intelligent children who also happen to be on the autism spectrum. However, gifted students can also receive learning disability labels or a diagnosis of a health impairment such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), both of which impact school success and fall under the umbrella of twice-exceptionality. The term twice-exceptional indicates that a student has two forms of … [Read more...] about Giftedness and ADHD
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Navigating the World of Special Education with your Gifted Student
By definition, a twice-exceptional (2e) student is one with two exceptionalities—giftedness along with a disability. Familiarizing yourself with the world of gifted education is a difficult task in itself, but when coupled with trying to understand special education options, it can be overwhelming. Unlike gifted education, in the world of special education, there are federal mandates governing the way in which students qualify for services and the ways in which school professionals deliver those … [Read more...] about Navigating the World of Special Education with your Gifted Student
Advocating for Your Gifted Child with Autism
Parenting a gifted child is a challenge. Gifted children can be intensely focused on certain subjects, have poor cooperation skills in a group setting, and may have difficulties in social situations. Interestingly, these same traits are also common among students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Giftedness and ASD can sometimes mask one another so that a child is only recognized as having one, but the two can also coexist! … [Read more...] about Advocating for Your Gifted Child with Autism
Advocacy: From Micro to Macro
Our recent article, Administrators of Gifted Programs: Paying Attention to the "Man Behind the Curtain," offered a perspective on "Microadvocacy," which operates on the scale of the individual child. Equally important is advocacy at a macrolevel—across a district, a state, or the nation. … [Read more...] about Advocacy: From Micro to Macro
Advocating and Partnering for Students with Special Needs
Anyone involved in the education of a child who needs special accommodations or services for a learning difficulty or disability should read the Special Needs Advocacy Resource Book, by Rich Weinfeld and Michelle Davis, Prufrock, 2008. The authors define students with special needs as “children with learning difficulties, children with disabilities, and gifted children.” However, in addressing the needs of gifted children, the authors point out that neither a free and appropriate public … [Read more...] about Advocating and Partnering for Students with Special Needs
A Primer on Pediatric Neuropsychology
We talked with Paul Beljan about pediatric neuropsychology, how it differs from school and educational psychology, and how and when families can benefit from a practitioner’s expertise. … [Read more...] about A Primer on Pediatric Neuropsychology