How to Advocate for Your Twice-Exceptional Child in School

Apr 18

At Ignition Therapy, we understand the challenges that come with raising a twice-exceptional (2e) child—one who is both gifted and has learning differences. These children possess incredible talents but often struggle in school. Without the right support, their potential may go unrecognized, leading to frustration and underachievement.

That’s where we come in. Our mission is to help parents navigate the complexities of the school system, ensuring that twice-exceptional children receive the accommodations, support, and opportunities they need to thrive. Below, we provide a step-by-step guide to help parents become better advocates for their child and securing the best possible educational experience.

Understanding Twice-Exceptional Learners

Twice-exceptional children are unique because they excel in one or more areas while also experiencing learning or developmental challenges such as:

ADHD – Struggles with focus, impulse control, or organization.
Executive Functioning- Difficulties with planning, organizing, prioritizing tasks, managing time, controlling emotions, and adapting to new situations,
Dyslexia – Difficulty with reading and writing despite strong verbal or problem-solving skills.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) – Strengths in logic and deep interests, but challenges in social or sensory processing.
Anxiety and Emotional Regulation Issues – Perfectionism, fear of failure, or frustration with rigid school environments.

Too often, schools either focus on a child’s giftedness while ignoring their struggles or label them based solely on their challenges and fail to nurture their talents. We help bridge that gap, working alongside parents and educators to ensure a balanced approach that nurtures both their strengths and their needs.

How We Help You Advocate for Your Child

At Ignition Therapy, we specialize in helping parents better their personalized advocacy. This helps to ensure your child receives the education they deserve. Here’s how we support families in navigating this journey.

Step 1: Identifying and Documenting Your Child’s Needs

Advocacy starts with being able to talk about their children's needs and strengths to teachers and school staff.

We help parents understand the specifics of what they see and help them to talk about it in ways that make sense in the school setting. We help parents understand information from a variety of sources such as:

Neuropsychological evaluations to uncover cognitive strengths and challenges.
Work samples and school reports to highlight areas of excellence and struggle.
Behavioral assessments to determine emotional or sensory needs.
Medical and psychological evaluations, if necessary, to ensure accurate diagnosis and accommodations.

With thorough documentation, we help build a strong case for the support your child needs at school.

Step 2: Understanding Your Child’s Educational Rights

Navigating the school system can be overwhelming, especially when dealing with special education laws and policies. We educate parents on:

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) – Provides rights to an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for eligible students.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act – Grants accommodations through a 504 Plan, ensuring equal access to education.
State-specific gifted programs – Identifying opportunities for advanced learning.

By understanding these protections, we empower families to advocate their child gets the services and supports they need.

Step 3: Collaborating with Schools and Educators

We guide parents on how to communicate effectively with school administrators, teachers, and specialists to secure accommodations such as:

Differentiated instruction – Adjusting teaching methods to cater to both giftedness and learning differences.
Flexible learning environments – Alternative seating, sensory breaks, or quiet areas.
Assistive technology – Tools like speech-to-text software or audiobooks to support learning.
Social-emotional support – Counseling services or peer mentorship to build confidence.

Step 4: Securing an IEP or 504 Plan

We assist families in formally requesting school evaluations and negotiating accommodations that address both giftedness and learning challenges. Our team helps:

Parents understand IEP or 504 documentation.
With drafting IEP or 504 requests.
Review and refine school-provided plans to ensure they meet your child’s needs.
Help parens plan for IEP or 504 meetings, ensuring that they feel ready to ask for services such as:

Extended test-taking time.
Curriculum acceleration for gifted subjects.
Behavioral interventions and sensory accommodations.

Step 5: Providing Supplemental Support Outside of School

Even with school accommodations, some 2e children need extra support. At Ignition Therapy, we offer:

One-on-one coaching – Helping students develop executive functioning skills, time management, and self-advocacy.
Social-emotional support programs – Helping children build resilience and confidence.
Parent workshops and advocacy training – Equipping parents with the skills to navigate school systems effectively.

Through these services, we ensure that every child reaches their full potential.

Step 6: Teaching Your Child Self-Advocacy

Empowering your child is just as important as working with the school. We help children:

Understand their learning profile – Recognizing both their strengths and areas where they need help.
Develop communication skills – Practicing how to ask for accommodations or explain their needs.
Build resilience – Shifting from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset, embracing challenges rather than fearing failure.

With these skills, 2e children can navigate high school, college, and beyond with confidence.

Step 7: Creating a Long-Term Education Plan

Gifted needs don’t stop in elementary or middle school. We work with families to create a long-term educational roadmap that considers:

Advanced placement (AP) or dual enrollment programs in high school.
College accommodations and scholarships for twice-exceptional students.
Career guidance tailored to their strengths and interests.

By planning ahead, we ensure that twice-exceptional children continue to thrive beyond K-12 education.