Learning from Failure, Resources, and More

FAILURE, THEN FREEDOM — that’s the message from neuropsychologist Lisa Rappaport writing at Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities. She describes her troubles as she was failing in high school, apparently from dyslexia, and how her dean told her “You are either not trying hard enough or you are stupid. Which is it?” At that point she was in crisis, during which she decided that she wanted eventually to be able to work with schools and advocate for children like her. Read more.

JEN THE BLOGGER has started a series called “The ABCs of G2e,” and her first post is “A Is For Advocacy.” She describes different ways those of us in the 2e community can advocate, then gives a strong nudge to start advocating now. Find the blog.

TiLT PARENTING. In podcast episode 164, possibly having run out of topics about differently-wired children, Debbie Reber turns to the topic of supporting adults who are newly identified as differently wired. (And because the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, as the saying goes, there are plenty of differently-wired adults in the 2e community.) Find the podcast.

EVENT. Early-bird registration for this year’s “2 Days of 2e” virtual conference is now open, according to conference organizers. The streaming dates are October 29-30, but the sessions remain accessible until next April. Find out more.

SCIENCE, MEDICINE, RESEARCH. One of the following items is probably very important, we think, for parents considering any sort of intervention for a 2e child. Another item is just plain depressing — no pun intended.
— About psychosocial interventions in adolescents, from 2MinuteMedicine.com. “Of the 25 intervention components included across the studies, interpersonal skills, emotional regulation, and alcohol and drug education predicted positive effects across multiple outcomes. Mindfulness, problem solving, assertiveness training, and stress management predicted positive effects in a single outcome. The remaining components, including cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, and social skills, were not found to be predictive in either direction.” Find the study write-up.
— A possible biological basis for autism, from MedicalXpress.com. “UNC School of Medicine scientists unveiled how a particular gene helps organize the scaffolding of brain cells called radial progenitors necessary for the orderly formation of the brain. Previous studies have shown that this gene is mutated in some people with autism.” Find the study write-up.
— And on depression, via Science Daily. “Adolescents exposed to elevated levels of pesticides are at an increased risk of depression, according to a new study….” Find the study write-up.

Helping Your 2e Child
Might summer be a good time to more deeply explore 2e-related topics, topics you’ve been meaning to investigate further? We suggest the affordable booklets in the Spotlight on 2e Series from Glen Ellyn Media and The 2e Resource, 12 booklets available in either print or PDF versions. Find out more.