Teaching The Gifted Learner

2 Pages 558 Words

While much research has been focused on the gifted learner, there has been little attention on the gifted but handicapped or disabled individual. Kay Kiesa has termed this group of individuals the “twice exceptional”.1 The research that has been done in this area has examined identification strategies and characteristics of the gifted handicapped child. Whitmore and Maker have suggested obstacles to identification of the gifted and handicapped child.2 These hindrances to identification include the stereotypical belief that disabled persons are below normal, developmental delays, incomplete information about the child resulting in overlooking an area of strength that might be displayed in nonacademic settings, and a lack of opportunity to demonstrate superior ability because of the highly verbal nature of school tasks and the use of ability testing in special education. These hindrances make the students that are finally recognized even more worthy of study. As educators there is a need to know how these students differ from other special needs/handicapped children and yet how they are like other gifted individuals. What are they doing differently? What is the key to their success despite their limitations? The researcher’s goal in this study was to examine the methods and strategies employed to compensate for physical limitations or areas of weakness. Interest in this study developed after the birth of the researcher’s gifted/handicapped grandson four years ago. Watching the methods this child and his parents employed to overcome and compensate for physical limitations provided insight, encouragement and ideas for those working with special needs children. The questions were obvious. Were these

students making greater strides toward life success because they had learned strategies that allowed acceptance within the school and social community, or were they overcoming their limitations due to other factors? If s...