2eNYC (Parents of Twice Exceptional Kids in New York City)

2eNYC is a listserv that was created in January 2011 as an online support group to provide a space where parents of twice exceptional students can advise each other on topics concerning education, parenting, community opportunities, etc. Most members are parents of children in New York City. In June of 2019, there are 576 members.

This is the Description on the Page of our Listserv - To Join- Click Here

Do you have a twice exceptional (2e) child - a child who is both gifted and has special needs? Most 2e children are not recognized until they are in school - often not until they are well into their education and then start to lag behind. Maybe your child is in a gifted program and floundering, or in a special ed program and not being challenged?

Children who are twice exceptional often test poorly - scoring in the superior or exceptional range on some sections of an IQ test, and below average in others - leading to a full scale IQ result that doesn't really represent your child's abilities - and placement in school programs that don't meet their needs.

Our group will focus on school-age children and the complex issues they face on a daily basis, as meeting the academic needs of twice exceptional children can be just as challenging as meeting their social and emotional needs.

Here is a definition that we feel is very appropriate to describe a twice exceptional child:

Twice exceptional individuals evidence exceptional ability and disability, which results in a unique set of circumstances. Their exceptional ability may dominate, hiding their disability; their disability may dominate, hiding their exceptional ability; each may mask the other so that neither is recognized or addressed.

2e students, who may perform below, at, or above grade level, require the following:

• Specialized methods of identification that consider the possible interaction of the exceptionalities,

• Enriched/advanced educational opportunities that develop the child’s interests, gifts, and talents while also meeting the child's learning needs,

• Simultaneous supports that ensure the child’s academic success and social–emotional well-being, such as accommodations, therapeutic interventions, and specialized instruction, and

Working successfully with this unique population requires specialized academic training and ongoing professional development.

(Baldwin et al., 2015)

If you are the parent of such a child, we feel your joy (and your pain). With the lack of resources available for our children, this is our own space to exchange resources and get help.

Best, Laurie, Group Owner

To join the group visit: https://2enyc.groups.io/g/main