Helping dyslexic and twice exceptional children discover their strengths, build confidence, and love the way they think. "I am stupid." Three words no parent or educator ever wants to hear a child say. Yet for some dyslexic and twice exceptional (2e) children, these words reflect how they have come to see themselves. Imagine having wonderful ideas but struggling to put them on paper. Solving difficult problems but forgetting simple instructions. Trying your hardest, day after

Your child can explain complex scientific concepts, solve problems in creative ways, or talk at length about their favorite subjects. But when it comes to math homework, even basic addition can bring them to tears. For parents of gifted and twice-exceptional (2e) children, this disconnect can be confusing. How can a child who demonstrates such advanced thinking struggle with something that seems so simple? Sometimes, the answer is dyscalculia. Dyscalculia is a learning disabi

Growing up in the late 80s as a gifted girl, I carried not just my Trapper Keeper and a hair scrunchie, but also a myriad of unidentified learning differences. There were things I was darn good at and areas where I struggled. When all the kids on the blacktop were learning the “cabbage patch” dance move in P.E., I quickly discovered my own attempts elicited laughter. Trying to ride my bike to a friend’s house a few streets over, I would get lost. I’m talking really lost. I co

"My child is incredibly bright, but getting ideas onto paper is a daily battle." If this sounds familiar, your child may be experiencing dysgraphia—a neurological difference that affects written expression. Dysgraphia is much more than "messy handwriting." It impacts the brain's ability to efficiently communicate ideas through writing, making even simple written tasks exhausting. As pediatric occupational therapists, we often meet children who can explain complex ideas verba

Meet Caleb. He’s gifted, with extremely high verbal comprehension, while at the same time, his dyslexia, dysgraphia, and ADHD means he struggles to read, write, and act like everyone else. This results in an interesting mix - he is fiercely independent, creative, and inquisitive. He’s always coming at things from a different angle, and putting disparate things together - both physical things and abstract concepts. He loves to think, talk, and make connections, but resists put

Learn about the five root causes of writing challenges plus the additional impacts of anxiety and perfectionism. We’ll discuss how to figure out what’s going on, and how to support each one. This session synthesizes various methods from specialists and private writing tutors and is full of practical tips and techniques.

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

Gil Gershoni of Dyslexic Thinking and Gershoni Creative discusses strengths of the dyslexic mind.

At REEL, we are passionate about helping parents, students, and teachers build bridges in support of maximizing each child’s potential. This includes neurodivergent and twice-exceptional learners, who often fall through the cracks. When everyone works together, amazing things can happen! We are inspired by a graphic of Dr. Robin Schader’s which visualizes teachers, students, and parents working together towards a common goal. She starts by drawing a triangle with the teacher

how dyslexia, dysgraphia, working memory, and processing speed can impact performance in math.

how dyslexia offers a heightened advantage, what he calls his “hyper-ability.” Learn how parents and educators can find the hyper-ability in children’s differences and foster these unique strengths to boost self-esteem, school/career pathways, and finding their place in the world.

Need a holiday gift or some winter break reading? Check out this list of books featuring neurodivergent characters, organized by grade. NEW! Shop directly on Bookshop.org and REEL receives a portion of the proceeds! https://bookshop.org/shop/reel Elementary Just Ask: Be Different. Be Brave. Be You. by Sonia Sotomayor and Rafael Lopez (differences) The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be by Joanna Gaines (differences) The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig (feeling invisible) The G

REEL recently hosted a private school panel featuring three parents, Abby Kirigin, Carmen O’Shea, and Callie Turk, who shared their journeys to find a strong educational fit for their twice-exceptional (2e) children and families. The event also featured new resources from REEL on private schools in Silicon Valley. We present below the first of three blog posts that summarize the key takeaways from the session. (See our 2e Fact Sheet for more info on what 2e/twice-exceptionali

REEL hosted an inspirational Q&A session to honor Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2022 with founder Siena Castellon. Learn about her experiences at school and life and why she created this special week to honor the neurodivergent.