The Twice-Exceptional Adolescents: Who Are They? What Do They Need?

The term twice-exceptional refers to students who have or show potential for remarkable gifts and talents in specific areas but whose deficits and difficulties in learning, attending, or meeting social and emotional expectations impede their development. Twice-exceptional students have unique sets of academic, social, and emotional needs. This dichotomy sets them apart from peers who are identified as gifted and from those who receive special education services. This chapter discusses the unique needs of twice-exceptional students, interwoven with the educational experiences of our second author, who shares the story of her challenges and successes as a twice-exceptional learner.