The future of our society depends on our gifted children—the population in which we’ll find our next Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, or Virginia Woolf. Yet the gifts and talents of some of our most brilliant kids may never be recognized because these children fall into a group known as twice exceptional, or “2e.” Twice exceptional kids are both gifted and diagnosed with a disability—often ADHD or an Autism Spectrum Disorder—leading teachers and parents to overlook the child’s talents and focus solely on his weaknesses. Too often, these children get lost in an endless cycle of chasing diagnostic labels and are never given the tools to fully realize their own potential.
Bright Not Broken sheds new light on this vibrant population by identifying who twice exceptional children are and taking an unflinching look at why they’re stuck. The first work to boldly examine the widespread misdiagnosis and controversies that arise from our current diagnostic system, it serves as a wake-up call for parents and professionals to question why our mental health and education systems are failing our brightest children.
Most importantly, the authors show what we can do to help 2e children, providing a whole child model for parents and educators to strengthen and develop a child’s innate gifts while also intervening to support the deficits. Drawing on painstaking research and personal experience, Bright Not Broken offers groundbreaking insight and practical strategies to those seeking to help 2e kids achieve their full potential.
Diane M. Kennedy, author of The ADHD-Autism Connection, is a long time advocate, international speaker/trainer, and mother of three twice-exceptional sons.
Rebecca S. Banks, M.A., co-author of The ADHD-Autism Connection, is a veteran educator, national speaker/trainer, and mother of two twice-exceptional children.
Temple Grandin, Ph.D., is a professor, prolific author, and one of the most accomplished and renowned adults with autism in the world.
By:
Diane M. Kennedy,
Rebecca S. Banks
Contributions by:
Temple Grandin
Imprint: Jossey-Bass Inc.,U.S.
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions:
Height: 234mm,
Width: 158mm,
Spine: 31mm
Weight: 476g
ISBN: 9780470623329
ISBN 10: 0470623322
Pages: 320
Publication Date: 24 August 2011
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
About the Authors ix Authors’ Note xi Preface xiii Temple Grandin Introduction xv Diane M. Kennedy and Rebecca S. Banks Part I: Who They Are 1. Twice Exceptional: A Nontraditional View of Giftedness 3 2. Recognizing 2e: A Confusing Mix of Abilities and Challenges 17 3. 2e, ADHD, and Labels: Misunderstanding Behaviors and Missing Deficits 37 4. Autism and 2e: A Better Understanding of Deficits and Behaviors 57 Part II: Why They’re Stuck 5. A Layman’s Guide to the DSM: The Flawed System That Traps Our Children 81 6. Fact or Fallacy: Questioning the Validity of the ADHD Diagnosis 101 7. Misunderstanding the Spectrum of Autism: An Important ‘‘e’’ in 2e 119 8. 2e Students and Education: Too Bright, Too Broken 139 Part III: How to Help Them 9. Diagnosing the Whole Child: Identifying Abilities and Minimizing Deficits 165 10. Educating the Whole Child: Nurturing Abilities and Supporting Challenges 183 Conclusion: Ensuring the Best Future for Our Brightest Minds 209 Additional Resources 219 Notes 225 Acknowledgments 261 Index 267
DIANE M. KENNEDY, author of The ADHD-Autism Connection, is a longtime advocate, international speaker/trainer, and mother of three twice-exceptional sons. REBECCA S. BANKS, MA, coauthor of The ADHD-Autism Connection, is a veteran educator, national speaker/trainer, and mother of two twice-exceptional children. TEMPLE GRANDIN, PhD, is a professor, prolific author, and one of the most accomplished and renowned adults with autism in the world.
Reviews for Bright Not Broken: Gifted Kids, ADHD, and Autism
"""This book is truly inspiring and it shows that by simply changing our perception of these children, and then the testing and education that stems from that perception, we can help them become successful, contributing adults."" (psychcentral.com, March 13th, 2012)"
