Organizing for Advocacy

It’s normal for parents to feel confused, overwhelmed, and exhausted when raising their kids — that’s why some wise person said it takes a village to raise a child. When parents are raising a twice-exceptional (2e) child, they may feel more like they wandered out of their village and took a detour into the Twilight Zone. But when parents of 2e kids have access to appropriate resources, information, and a knowledgeable community of peers, and when their children are understood, accepted and appreciated, they can begin to find new bearings to help them navigate their parenting journey.

Although 2e children are exceptionally bright, they can have a constellation of issues that challenge them in any number of ways. Parents of neurotypical children may turn to family, friends, or their pediatrician for advice; but parents of 2e children generally have a much harder time finding resources to help them understand their child. Parents often find that conventional parenting wisdom does not apply to their 2e son or daughter because the development of these kids follows a different trajectory. They are brilliant in some areas but surprisingly challenged in others; they can have a hard time with social skills; their school may find it hard to keep them engaged or manage their behavior; and it can feel to parents as though no one they consult can shed light on what is happening and why. It can be a deeply unsettling, and isolating experience.