Gifted Support Group: Getting to the Root of 2E: Beyond The Usual Suspects

Do you suspect a child is Twice Exceptional (2e), but aren’t sure what the disability is, or what to do about it? Do you have a diagnosis, but it doesn’t “feel right,” or aren’t sure you’ve uncovered the whole story? Does your student have trouble handing in homework, resist writing, have trouble regulating their behavior, or struggle with anxiety? Misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis is rampant, you need to peel the onion to truly understand what’s going on. Learn about the most commonly overlooked challenges in gifted kids, what clues you might notice at home and in the classroom, how to seek an official diagnosis, and most importantly, how best to support your student’s needs. We’ll also discuss the difference between IEPs and 504 Plans, why early intervention is so important, the four root causes of writing troubles, and the many lookalikes of ADHD.

About the Speaker

Austina De Bonte is a consultant at Smart is not Easy, LLC. Since 2012, Austina has also served as President and Past President of the Northwest Gifted Child Association (www.nwgca.org), the Washington State support and advocacy non-profit for families with gifted children. She also serves as co-President of the Washington Coalition for Gifted Education. A dynamic and engaging presenter, Austina speaks regularly at conferences, as well as conducts parent education talks and professional development workshops for educators about the unique social and emotional development of highly capable (HiCap) or “gifted” children. She also works with school district teams to develop and fine-tune their HiCap program models, especially concerning equitable identification strategies. Austina’s signature style combines her experience as a parent and parent coach along with synthesized research, current district practices across Washington State, and cutting edge neuroscience. She specializes in helping families get to the root cause of their kids’ challenges. Austina has a Masters degree from MIT, and did her thesis work in the MIT Media Lab’s Epistemology and Learning Group, where Lego Mindstorms was invented. Austina is a certified SENG Model Parent Group facilitator. Austina is currently a doctoral student at Bridges Graduate School. Contact Austina at austina@smartisnoteasy.com