Is My Child Gifted, Disabled, or Both? Signs of Twice-Exceptionality Parents Often Miss
What Is Twice-Exceptionality? Twice-exceptionality can be challenging to spot! A twice-exceptional child’s gifts may mask the...
Twice-exceptional students sometimes seem to be a contradiction – exceptionally bright, but also needing significant support and guidance in some areas. Strengths-based education is a way of extending the student in their areas of excellence and interest, while also crafting strategies to address their weaknesses.
Having studied under Dr. Susan Baum, the world's foremost academic researching twice-exceptional education, Olivia is one of the only people in Australia licensed to administer Baum's Suite of Tools. This comprises a series of assessments and in-person interviews with parents, teachers, and of course the student themselves, to produce a bespoke education plan grounded in best practice and focused on the student's extraordinary abilities, both inside and out of the classroom.
The Suite of Tools comprises a comprehensive series of tests and interviews to produce a ‘whole-person’ picture of the twice-exceptional individual.
Olivia conducts a 90-120-minute interview with the student themselves, focusing on understanding their talents, interests and learning preferences, and completing three assessments – C.L.U.E.S., the Learning Print and the Quick Personality Indicator. Another 90-120-minute interview is completed with the parent/s or guardian/s of the student to complete a second copy of C.L.U.E.S. and understand patterns in the student’s life. (For adults who are no longer in contact with their parents, a trusted long-time friend can be utilised here instead.)
Two other significant service providers in the individual’s life, such as teachers, therapists or extracurricular activity providers, each complete C.L.U.E.S and then engage in a 60-minute interview with Olivia to clarify and extend her understanding of the student.
After Olivia has synthesised this information, she chairs a 90-120-minute meeting with the parent/s or guardian/s, professionals and school executive to present her findings and brainstorm possible solutions as a team, working together to ensure that the recommendations are practical as well as evidence-based.
You will receive a copy of the Suite of Tools report, including three appendices, “Friendly Learning Environments”, “More Success in the Classroom Matrix” and a Talent Plan, with detailed instructions on how to best support the student in their learning, both at school and in co-curricular opportunities.
Twice-exceptional students are a complex and under-studied population. Olivia has sought out the very best practice for them, travelling internationally in order to be able to bring this cutting-edge research to Australia. Baum's Suite of Tools provides a roadmap for a neuroaffirming, strengths-based, talent-focused education in a way that increases buy-in and doesn't harm twice-exceptional students' fragile academic self-efficacy like many other special education programs do.
If you know your child is capable of more than their current grades show, let’s work together to change the narrative.
Exceptional Like Me, led by Dr. Olivia Evans, provides specialised, neuroaffirming support for gifted and twice-exceptionality (2e) individuals. Combining elite academic qualifications with her own lived experience, Dr. Evans offers a unique strengths-based approach through educational consulting, neurodivergent coaching, and specialised tutoring.