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2E TOPICS:
SCHOOL ADVOCACY
Supporting a twice-exceptional (2e) learner often means stepping into the role of advocate, either at school, in meetings, or throughout your child’s educational journey. In this page, you’ll find articles, panels, and expert perspectives on how to navigate the school system, build collaborative relationships with educators, and push for the resources and understanding your student deserves. From effective communication strategies to insights on dyslexia, autism, and public school supports, these resources are designed to equip parents, educators, and allies with practical tools and real stories to help 2e learners thrive.
ARTICLES
Twice-exceptional (2e) Dyslexic Discussion Panel
After the screening of Left Behind we hosted a powerful panel conversation about the intersection of dyslexia and giftedness. This panel brings together leaders in the field of learning differences:
--Dr. Fernette Eide, international expert on dyslexia and co-author of The Dyslexic Advantage and The Mislabeled Child, co-creator of the forthcoming movie, The Dyslexic Advantage.
--Anna Cencioso, Founder and Head of School at Touchstone Learning
--Mandy Hoff, Learning Specialist
Effective Strategies for Educators: Talking to Parents About Student Challenges
REEL is frequently asked by educators how to approach conversations with parents about academic, behavioral, or social-emotional concerns regarding a student. What is appropriate to say? How should they handle situations where parents are resistant or do not understand the concerns? To provide guidance, we spoke with several experts including an educator-turned-special education advocate with experience across multiple districts, a Santa Clara County Office of Education leade
Tips for School Trips: How to Make Trips Accessible to Neurodivergent Students
Many schools create wonderful field trips, camping excursions, and out-of-town expeditions to facilitate group bonding, enhance the...
Twice Exceptional: Bridges to Opportunity
This is the second in a series from our guest blogger, Barbara Pape, Senior Director of the Digital Promise® Learner Variability Project,...
Twice Exceptional: History & Barriers
We at REEL are excited to collaborate with Barbara Pape, Senior Director of the Digital Promise® Learner Variability Project, as a guest...
What Can You Ask Your School For?
What is reasonable and likely to be accepted and what is not? Our panel of two parents and a neuropsychologist discussed and suggested concrete support and accommodation options as well as answered questions from our parent community.
Autism Level Up: How Adults Can Best Support Neurodivergent Children
the dynamic duo of Amy & Jac of Autism Level Up (ALU) spoke to REEL about how adults can be neurodiversity affirming forces in the lives of their 2e students.
Advocating for Neurodivergent Learners: What I Learned This Summer
One of REEL's Summer 2022 interns, Nora, focused on developing an advocacy playbook to help REEL learn more about navigating legislative systems. Check out the playbook she created and her reflection on her internship experience. REEL had three interns from a local private school working on projects to help educators, parents, and policymakers better understand these unique, twice-exceptional learners. We were lucky to have Christine, Aaron, and Nora on our team—thank you for
2e News Yong Zhao Interview
Born in rural China during the Cultural Revolution, Yong Zhao recollects that he had no talent as a farmer, so his father sent him to...
Working the System: Tap Into Public Schools for Assessment & Support for 2e Learners
Understanding and getting support for 2e learners can be complicated. The public education system is sometimes unwieldy and confusing. When parents suspect their child’s challenges (academic and/or social-emotional) may stem from an as yet undiscovered diagnosis, they often don't know how to start the process of requesting accommodations, assessments, and services. As a result, parents frequently do not leverage the resources of their public schools, which can lead to delays
Effecting Change at Your School for Your 2e Student this Year
On Jan 13, 2022, REEL members met in our PHP online support group and used Padlet to share strategies for communicating with teachers and...
How Public School Districts Can Support 2e Learners
Heads or tails? The odds of meeting the educational needs of twice-exceptional (2e) children can feel like a coin toss. A recent online poll of 2e parents about school choices for their 2e kids split almost evenly between those saying public school failed them and those responding that public school has been great. To ensure more 2e children have the chance to thrive in school, we’ve coalesced the top tips from educational leaders in public school organizations with establish
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