Professor of Twice-Exceptional and Gifted Programs Cleveland State University, Georgia
Short description: Gifted kids with autism need both advanced opportunities and structured supports in order to thrive. Parents often must be the ones who communicate with others about these complex needs. Beginning with the characteristics and needs, this session discusses the frustrations, the diagnoses, the challenges, and the joys of helping neurodiverse children thrive in school and at home.
Learning Outcomes: Participants will:
Understand how giftedness and autism co-exist, and how their children perceive and respond to the world and school
Learn to use strategies and specific language to help communicate and collaborate with teachers, friends, and family members
Anticipate and prepare for developmental changes that can be impacted by autism and giftedness