Twice-exceptional Kids

What do you call a child who tests as gifted and has a diagnosed learning or attention issue? It’s not a riddle, but rather a reality for at least 6% of students believed to be what is known as “twice-exceptional.” 2e children, as the shorthand goes, are intellectually gifted and neurodivergent, living with at least one learning disability such as ADHD, dyslexia, autism, or other learning differences. Because of that profile — one in which their intellectual prowess may camouflage their disability or their clear-cut disability lands them in special education settings with students below their academic prowess — schools often find serving 2e students proves to be a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. It’s no wonder that twice-exceptional students are among the most under-identified and underserved cohorts in schools. On this episode, we visit an Arizona twice-exceptional teenager who through her podcast is giving voice and shedding light on the 2e life. Next, our expert panel delves deeper into the dynamics of twice-exceptionality and how parents can best support and advocate for their kids. Later, you’ll meet our latest “Difference Maker,” a world-renown paleontologist whose success with science helped him bury his struggles with undiagnosed dyslexia.