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The term Twice Exceptional, often abbreviated as 2E or 2X, refers to advanced (gifted) children who also have some form of disability or learning challenge. These children are considered exceptional both because of their giftedness (intellectual, creative, perceptual, motor, leadership etc.) and because of their special needs (specific learning disability, mental or physical health challenge, neurodevelopmental disability, etc.).
Learning challenges may include dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, depression, executive function, auditory or visual or sensory processing disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, sensory processing disorder, autism, Asperger Syndrome, Tourette Syndrome, or other disability interfering with the student's ability to learn effectively in a traditional environment. Identification of a 2E child will often begin with cognitive testing such as the CogAT, administered by the school, or may begin with private testing sought by parents. While CogAT testing offers a single score in each of the areas of verbal, quantitative and nonverbal, Full IQ testing will offer individual scores in many subtest areas and give a Full Scale (or average) of all of these subscores. Viewing this full set of subscores gives insight into a child’s areas of strengths and weaknesses, unlike a Full Scale score which averages out, and makes invisible, these differences. “Masking” refers to a gifted child’s ability to compensate for their disabilities OR the disabilities falsely depressing scores in their gifted areas. If there are disparate scores in subtest areas (For example, some variant of subtests in the 90th percentile with another in the 40th percentile or lower) it may indicate a 2E situation, warranting further testing. While it is common for gifted children to score lower in Working Memory and Processing Speed (perfectionism and complex thinking can interfere), it is always worth questioning/testing disparate subtest scores. Testing results, combined with the full body of evidence (student achievement, performance and observational data), can be used by the school for further evaluation to determine the need for an ALP, an IEP and/or a 504 Plan. If warranted, children are entitled to multiple services under the law. Be aware, if a family has one gifted child, there is a high likelihood that all the children are gifted. A 2E situation can mask a child's advanced abilities and can lead to a child being unidentified and/or missed for services. DefinitionsALP - The Advanced Learning Plan (ALP) is a legal document [22-20-R-12.00, C.R.S.] outlining programming for identified gifted students and is used as a guide for educational planning and decision-making.
Colorado Dept. of Education, click here. IEP - The Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) is a plan or program developed to ensure that a child who has a disability identified under the law and is attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receives specialized instruction and related services. Colorado Dept. of Education, click here. 504 - The 504 Plan is a plan developed to ensure that a child who has a disability identified under the law and is attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receives accommodations that will ensure their academic success and access to the learning environment. Colorado Dept. of Education, click here. CogAT - The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is a group-administered assessment intended to estimate students' learned reasoning and problem solving abilities through a battery of verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal test items. |
Colorado Department of Education 2E Definition
"Twice-exceptional students are those who are identified as gifted according to state criteria in one or more of the categories of giftedness (cognitive, academic, creative, leadership, or arts) AND Identified with a disability according to federal/state criteria – and the disability qualifies them for either an IEP or a 504 plan." Click here for CDE 2E information. The Difference Between an IEP & 504 Plan by Understood.org
Jeffco District Policy regarding programs for
Students with Disabilities, click here. Jeffco Gifted & Talented Department, Twice Exceptional, click here
Learning Disabilities Association of America Twice Exceptional Children’s Advocacy: TECA Understood (National Center for Learning Disabilites) 2enewsletter.org 2elearners.org Davidson Institute 2e Guide Twice Exceptional (Institute for Educational Advancement) Uniquely Gifted Smart Kids With Learning Disabilities Learning Disabled Online NEA Twice Exceptional Handbook Twice exceptional checklist (1 page) - Dr. Devon MacEachron
NAGC twice exceptional information for parents and educators (5 pages)
Intervention strategies for parents and educators (58 pages)
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Jefferson County Association for Gifted Children 1100 Johnson Road #18792 Golden, CO 80402 jeffcogifted.org |
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