What It Means
Twice exceptional, often shortened to 2e, describes a child who is giftedGifted and talentedStudents who show high ability in an intellectual, creative, artistic, leadership or academic area and need services beyond the regular classroom to develop it. See more and also has one or more disabilities. The National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) defines 2e children as gifted students with the potential for high achievement who also show a disability that meets federal or state eligibility criteria. NAGC lists specific learning disabilities, speech and language disorders, emotional and behavioral disorders, physical disabilities, autism spectrumAutism spectrumAutism spectrum disorder: a developmental disability affecting social communication and interaction, with restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests. See more and other conditions such as ADHDADHD in kidsAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children: ongoing trouble paying attention, sitting still or controlling impulses, beyond what's usual for their age. See more among the disabilities involved.
Try It: Flip the Cards on How 2e Can Look
Open each card. They follow NAGC's description of how a twice-exceptional child can look at school.
1. The disability hides the gift
The struggle is what the school sees, so the strength goes unnoticed and nobody thinks to screen for gifted.
2. The gift hides the disability
The child uses their strengths to make up for the weak spot, so the work looks fine and the disability goes unnoticed.
3. The work is uneven
Grades swing, written work is a struggle, and organizing long projects is hard.
4. The wrong labels stick
NAGC notes 2e children can get called lazy, unmotivated or an underachiever.
5. What to ask for
Ask the school about gifted identification and, separately, about an evaluation for the disability.
How Parents Say It
- "He reads at a high school level and can't finish a worksheet."
- "Her teacher said she's too smart to have a learning disability."
- "Our son is 2e: gifted and ADHD."
The Breakdown
How 2e can show up as school gets harder
| Stage | What NAGC describes | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Strengths stand out | Deep knowledge or talent in at least one area | How the district identifies gifted students |
| Strengths cover for a weakness | The child masks the disability with their talents, so it goes unnoticed | Whether an evaluation for a disability makes sense |
| The disability takes over | The giftedness is overshadowed, and only the struggle shows | Whether the child has ever been screened for gifted |
| Demands pile up | Trouble with organization, participation and long-term planning, uneven grades, frustration, trouble with written expression | What supports would help in class |
Signs worth writing down, from NAGC's description
- Deep knowledge of a subject alongside real trouble with written work
- Grades that swing from one assignment to the next
- Frustration as the amount and pace of work grow
- Being called lazy, unmotivated or an underachiever
When to talk to the school. If you see a pattern like this, ask the teacher for a meeting and raise both sides. A parent can ask the public schoolPublic schoolA school run by publicly elected or appointed officials and paid for mainly with public money, including district, charter and magnet schools. See more for an initial evaluation for a disability; Buhata's pages on evaluation requests and IEPsIEPAn IEP (Individualized Education Program) is the written plan a public school makes for a child who qualifies for special education under IDEA. See more cover the steps. Gifted identification is a separate process that each state and district sets, so ask about it on its own.
Good to Know
Gifted identification and disability evaluation run on separate tracks. NAGC's FAQ says almost all decisions about gifted education are made at the state and local level, while a disability evaluation follows IDEA's federal rules. Ask about each one by name, keep dated notes and work samples, and talk with your child's doctor about any health or attention concerns.
FAQ
What does 2e mean?
Twice exceptional. It describes a child who is gifted and also has one or more disabilities, such as a learning disability, ADHD or autism, according to NAGC.
Can a gifted child have a learning disability?
Yes. NAGC lists specific learning disabilities among the disabilities twice-exceptional children have, and notes the child's talents can mask the disability so it goes unnoticed.
Why is twice exceptional hard to spot?
NAGC says the giftedness is often overshadowed by the disability, or the child hides the disability by leaning on their strengths. Either way, the school may see only half the picture.
Do It in Buhata
Tasks and Calendar
Add one Task in Buhata for the gifted screening request and another for the evaluation request, so each track has its own due date and neither waits on the other.
Open BuhataRelated Terms and Categories
- Gifted and talented
Students who show high ability in an intellectual, creative, artistic, leadership or academic area and need services beyond the regular classroom to develop it.
- ADHD in kids
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children: ongoing trouble paying attention, sitting still or controlling impulses, beyond what's usual for their age.
- Evaluation request
A request, usually from a parent, that the public school evaluate a child for a disability and special education services under IDEA.
- IEP
An IEP (Individualized Education Program) is the written plan a public school makes for a child who qualifies for special education under IDEA.
- Neurodivergent
A nonmedical word for a person whose brain develops or works differently from what's considered typical, as with autism, ADHD or a learning disability.
Sources
National Association for Gifted Children, "Twice-Exceptional Students" (resources for parents); National Association for Gifted Children, "Ensuring Gifted Children with Disabilities Receive Appropriate Services" (position statement); National Association for Gifted Children, "Celebrating Twice-Exceptional (2e) Learners on International Day of Persons with Disabilities"; National Association for Gifted Children, "Frequently Asked Questions about Gifted Education"
- www.nagc.org/news/ensuring-gifted-children-with-disabilities-receive-appropriate-services
- portal.nagc.org/resource/resmgr/knowledge-center/position-statements/ensuring_gifted_children_wit.pdf
- www.nagc.org/news/celebrating-twiceexceptional-2e-learners-on-international-day-of-persons-with-disabilities-
- www.nagc.org/frequently-asked-questions-about-gifted-education
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