Menu
The term twice exceptional, often abbreviated as 2e, became part of educational vocabulary in the mid-1990s. It refers to gifted students who also have some form of learning or developmental disability.
The term Twice Exceptional, also referred to as “2e,” is used to describe children who have the characteristics of gifted students with the potential for higher than normal achievement in certain areas or subjects. However, 2e students also show evidence of one or more disabilities as defined by federal or state eligibility criteria. These students are considered exceptional because of both their giftedness, and because they have special needs.
A gifted child displays skills or abilities well above their grade level in a certain area(s). When a child is gifted, they may participate in special programs or education in, or outside of their school. Gifted education is a broad group of special practices, procedures, and theories used in the education of children who have been identified as gifted or talented. The main approaches to gifted education are enrichment and acceleration.
However, as I have said, a 2e student also has special needs,
Students who are Twice Exceptional have special needs in addition to their giftedness. These needs may exist in areas such as reading comprehension, emotional regulation, or speech and language. These needs may manifest through behaviors as a result of a diagnosed disability such as autism, ADHD, Anxiety Disorder, Oppositional Defiance Disorder, etc. If your gifted child is struggling in their educational environment, they may qualify for special education services after the appropriate evaluations and diagnoses have been completed.
A child with both giftedness and special needs may be identified as a Twice Exceptional student. One of the most prevalent challenges with Twice Exceptional students is that their giftedness can mask their special education needs. If your child has been identified as gifted in a school subject(s), but still seems to struggle in their educational environment overall, you may want to consider requesting a special education evaluation. Talk with your school and your child’s pediatrician about your options.
Feel free to get in touch with me to discuss your questions. I offer a free initial consultation.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.