Understanding Twice Exceptional Learners: Connecting Research to Practice

Balanced research and practice

Gifted students with disabilities, known as twice exceptional or twice-exceptional learners are at-risk when their instructional, and social and emotional needs are not supported. These co-occurring conditions occur in an estimated one third of the gifted learner population. This session looks at the lived experiences of gifted learners who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, Executive Functioning Disorder, or are Dyslexic. Unlike other sessions focused on these populations of students, our project provides an examination of co-occurring disabilities commonly found in twice-exceptional populations. Presenters will introduce the concept of twice-exceptionality then focus on Autism Spectrum Disorders, Attention Deficit Disorder, Executive Functioning, and Dyslexia. The vignettes that follow the literature review highlight the lived experiences of twice-exceptional students, and the behaviors that practitioners may see at home and in their classrooms will be shared.