Bright Not Broken

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.

The future of our society depends on our gifted children--thepopulation in which we'll find our next Isaac Newton, AlbertEinstein, or Virginia Woolf. Yet the gifts and talents ofsome of our most brilliant kids may never be recognized becausethese children fall into a group known as twice exceptional, or"2e." Twice exceptional kids are both gifted anddiagnosed with a disability--often ADHD or an Autism SpectrumDisorder--leading teachers and parents to overlook thechild's talents and focus solely on his weaknesses. Toooften, these children get lost in an endless cycle of chasingdiagnostic labels and are never given the tools to fully realizetheir own potential.Bright Not Broken sheds new light on this vibrant population byidentifying who twice exceptional children are and taking anunflinching look at why they're stuck. The first workto boldly examine the widespread misdiagnosis and controversiesthat arise from our current diagnostic system, it serves as awake-up call for parents and professionals to question why ourmental health and education systems are failing our brightestchildren.Most importantly, the authors show what we can do to help 2echildren, providing a whole child model for parents and educatorsto strengthen and develop a child's innate gifts while alsointervening to support the deficits. Drawing on painstakingresearch and personal experience, Bright Not Broken offersgroundbreaking insight and practical strategies to those seeking tohelp 2e kids achieve their full potential.Diane M. Kennedy, author of The ADHD-Autism Connection, is a longtime advocate, international speaker/trainer, and mother of threetwice-exceptional sons.Rebecca S. Banks, M.A., co-author of The ADHD-Autism Connection, isa veteran educator, national speaker/trainer, and mother of twotwice-exceptional children.Temple Grandin, Ph.D., is a professor, prolific author, and one ofthe most accomplished and renowned adults with autism in the world.

About the Authors ixAuthors' Note xiPreface xiiiTemple GrandinIntroduction xvDiane M. Kennedy and Rebecca S. BanksPart I: Who They Are1. Twice Exceptional: A Nontraditional View of Giftedness 32. Recognizing 2e: A Confusing Mix of Abilities and Challenges 173. 2e, ADHD, and Labels: Misunderstanding Behaviors and Missing Deficits 374. Autism and 2e: A Better Understanding of Deficits and Behaviors 57Part II: Why They're Stuck5. A Layman's Guide to the DSM: The Flawed System That Traps Our Children 816. Fact or Fallacy: Questioning the Validity of the ADHD Diagnosis 1017. Misunderstanding the Spectrum of Autism: An Important ''e'' in 2e 1198. 2e Students and Education: Too Bright, Too Broken 139Part III: How to Help Them9. Diagnosing the Whole Child: Identifying Abilities and Minimizing Deficits 16510. Educating the Whole Child: Nurturing Abilities and Supporting Challenges 183Conclusion: Ensuring the Best Future for Our Brightest Minds 209Additional Resources 219Notes 225Acknowledgments 261Index 267