1. Supporting Extraordinary Minds; Understanding Twice-Exceptional Children Chris Croll

2. Outline Define “gifted” and “twice exceptional”
Discuss the unique characteristics twice-exceptional children
Diagnosing 2e children
Myths Exposed
Advice for Educators
Advice for Parents
More Resources

3. Gifted The Columbus Group, 1991
“Giftedness is asynchronous development in which advanced cognitive abilities and heightened intensity combine to create inner experiences and awareness that are qualitatively different from the norm.  This asynchrony increases with higher intellectual capacity. The uniqueness of the gifted renders them particularly vulnerable and requires modifications in parenting, teaching and counseling in order for them to develop optimally.” 

4. Gifted
Gifted children develop unevenly…
Haley O’Connor
Haley O’Connor

5. Gifted…

6. Gifted Gifted does not mean high achieving!
The desire to learn is not the same as the desire to perform

7. Gifted Intellectual Characteristics
Gifted means an IQ of 130+
IQ testing is not reliable until the child is 5+ years old

8. Gifted Intellectual Characteristics
Gifted means an IQ of 130+
IQ testing is not reliable until the child is 5+ years old
The catch: Sometimes disabilities negatively impact IQ scores

9. Gifted Neurological & Physiological
Physical characteristics of giftedness
Brain chemistry is different
Brain physical structure is different
Information processing is different
A person has a stronger reaction than normal for a longer period of time to a stimulus that may be small or imperceptible to others (GROgifted)

10. Gifted Neurological & Physiological
Dobrowski Overexcitabilities (OE’s)
Psychomotor (talk fast, more energy)
Sensual (react more strongly)
Intellectual (“rage to learn”)
Emotional (feel deeper)
Imaginational (fantasy and reality blending together)

11. Gifted Social-Emotional Characteristics
Many gifted children do not know how to ask for help…and adults don’t always see the struggle
Gifted children are adept at masking their feelings
Gifted children behave differently (quirky) anyway
Gifted children can perform at very high levels at school and still be suffering inside
Gifted children are often bullied for being different
67% of gifted 8th graders reported being the victim of bullying as opposed to 13% of the general population (Cross)

12. Gifted Social-Emotional Characteristics
Some research suggests high IQ children struggle more than neuro typical children with social emotional skills
85 percent of financial success in life is due to skills in ‘human engineering’ including your personality, ability to communicate, negotiate and lead.’ (Carnegie Institute of Technology)

14. But wait…there’s more!
As if being gifted wasn’t hard enough….. let’s throw in a disability (or two)!

15. Twice Exceptional Kids
It’s hard to be a gifted child but it’s extremely hard to be 2e child
“You’re so smart, why
can’t you behave?”
“He does well academically but gets in trouble constantly”
“Just please act normal for once!”
“You’re just not trying hard enough.”
“Sit still and stop acting like a baby.”
“Control yourself!”

16. Twice Exceptional Kids
It’s hard to be a gifted child but it’s extremely hard to be 2e child
“WHY IS EVERYONE ALWAYS MAD AT ME?”
William
“You’re so smart, why
can’t you behave?”
“He does well academically but gets in trouble constantly”
“Just please act normal for once!”
“You’re just not trying hard enough”
“Sit still and stop acting like a baby.”
“Control yourself!”

17. Twice Exceptional Kids
Some conditions are fairly common in the gifted population – Written Expression Disorder, ADHD, Anxiety, Depression
Example: ADHD
ADHD and Tourette Syndrome
ADHD and OCD
ADHD and Oppositional Defiant Disorder
There is research ongoing about comorbidity of suicidology and giftedness (Dr. Tracy Cross, William & Mary)

18. Categories of 2e
Gifted Students with Physical Disabilities - In the majority of cases, physical disability and cognitive ability are unrelated. Example: Stephen Hawking
Gifted Students with Sensory Disabilities - Hearing impaired, blind, etc. Example: Helen Keller
Gifted Students with Asperger Syndrome - Characterized by language and social impairments. Example: Dr. Temple Grandin
Gifted Students with Emotional and/or Behavioral Disorders - Example: John Nash Jr. (“A Beautiful Mind”)
Gifted Students with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder - Example: Dr. Nikola Tesla (presumed)
Gifted Students with Learning Disabilities – Example; Albert Einstein

19. What Does 2e Look Like?
Rodney gets decent grades and achieves close to or at grade level on all of his district’s assessments. When concerns about his reading achievement were raised and an evaluation conducted, it was found that his IQ is well above average, superior in some areas, but his reading decoding scores are below the average range for students his age. He has a combination of some gifted abilities and other areas that require intensive intervention. Rodney is twice-exceptional.

20. Diagnosing 2e Children Source: Belin Blank Center, University of Iowa
Review of educational and medical records
Interviews with parents and child
Individual administration of intelligence, academic achievement and executive function tests
Behavior rating scales completed by child, teacher and parents (measures of self control, depression, anxiety)
Measures of development and adaptive function (ASD eval)

21. Diagnosing 2e Children Source: Belin Blank Center Carrie Hannah IQ
160 (99th %tile)
Achievement
>99th %tile
Adaptive Behavior
18th %tile
Communication 20th %tile
Socialization 5th %tile
70th %tile
Communication 95th %tile
Socialization 42nd %tile
Diagnosis
ASD
No ASD

22. Myths Quiz - True or False?
Being gifted makes up for having a learning or attention issue
Students can’t be gifted and lack basic skills, so they’re just not trying hard enough
2E students are eligible for IEPs or 504 plans
Giftedness and challenges can’t be addressed at the same time
Addressing weaknesses should be the top priority when helping 2E students
2E students need accommodations but they can be in AP/Dual Enrollment classes
2E students should be more mature than other kids their age
Source: Understood.com

23. Recommended Read for 2e Children
“Out of My Mind” by Sharon M. Draper
Gifted 11 year old girl with Cerebral Palsy
Non verbal
Quadriplegic
Extremely gifted
Props to Mrs. Clothier, 6H English at Simpson

24. Advice for Educators…
If you want to motivate a 2e child to perform, gear your instruction around subjects that interest them
Many 2e children have a very rigid justice system
Give directions using multiple modalities
Build trust so students feel comfortable asking for help
Use the team – counselors, outside therapists, IEP team, etc.
Teach organizational skills
Be flexible!!!!

25. Advice for Parents…
Modify your expectations and your parenting style for a 2e child
Model good EQ skills
Shake hands, make eye contact, express empathy, demonstrate tenacity, label your emotions, admit mistakes, etc.
Give children a vocabulary for self expression
“It’s hard for you to stop playing and clean up.”
“You’re mad that your tower fell!”
“You’re so disappointed it’s raining and we can’t go outside today.”

26. Biggest Parenting Challenge
Love the disability as much as you love the gifts…these are all components of what makes your child beautiful, special and different

27. Biggest Parenting Challenge
Love the disability as much as you love the gifts…these are all components of what makes your child beautiful, special and different
The world needs YOUR child just the way they are

28. More Resources… Follow @Raising Children with Intelligence on Facebook
ADHD Accommodations
ASD Accommodations
Book about Missed Diagnosis
and Misdiagnosis

29. 703 863 8644 Chris@NationalCenterforGiftedServices.com
Thank You!
nationalcenterforgiftedservices.com