Challenges in Recognizing and Supporting Gifted Students with Dual Exceptionalities in the Educational Process
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18690/rei.4906Keywords:
dual exceptional students, giftedness, special needs, recognition, teacher training.Abstract
Twice-exceptional students, who have giftedness combined with special educational needs, are often overlooked, which hinders the provision of appropriate support in the educational process. This paper analyses the attitudes and competences of professionals working with this group of students, as well as the ways knowledge is acquired in this field. The research results show that most professionals recognize the importance of identifying twice-exceptionality, yet only a few systematically incorporate appropriate pedagogical approaches into practice. Knowledge in this area is mostly gained through informal sources and experience sharing, since formal professional training is limited. The need for developing specialized training programs is emphasized to improve the identification and effective support of this specific group of students.
Downloads
References
Ančimer Aljaž, K., & Juriševič, M. (2018). Problemi opredeljevanja in prepoznavanja dvojno izjemnih učencev. Šolsko svetovalno delo, 22(1), 32–42. https://www.dlib.si/stream/URN:NBN:SI:doc-MIABT0BN/702c9dde-f806-46c6-a78e-6d2f354a44c7/PDF
Baum, S., Olenchak, F. R., & Owen, S. V. (2004). Gifted students with attention deficits: Fact. In Twice-exceptional and special populations of gifted students (Vol. 7, pp. 35–47).
Baum, S. M., Schader, R. M., & Hebert, T. P. (2014). Through a different lens: Reflecting on a strengths-based, talent-focused approach for twice-exceptional learners. Gifted Child Quarterly, 58(4), 247–331. https://doi.org/10.1177/0016986214547632
Baum, S. M., Schader, R. M., & Owen, S. V. (2021). To be gifted and learning disabled: Strength-based strategies for helping twice-exceptional students with LD, ADHD, ASD, and more. Routledge.
Beckley, D. (1998). Gifted and learning disabled: Twice exceptional students. Office of Educational Research and Improvement. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED424711.pdf
Beckmann, E., & Minnaert, A. (2018). Non-cognitive characteristics of gifted students with learning disabilities: An in-depth systematic review. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 504. https://doi.org/–10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00504
Bianco, M. (2005). The effects of disability labels on special and general education teachers’ referrals for gifted programs. Learning Disability Quarterly, 28(4), 285–293.
Foley Nicpon, M., Allmon, A., Sieck, B., & Stinson, R. D. (2011). Empirical investigation of twice-exceptionality: Where have we been and where are we going? Gifted Child Quarterly, 55(1), 3–17.
Gharashi, K. (2015). Challenges of deaf and hearing-impaired children. International Journal of Biology, Pharmacy and Allied Sciences, 4(8), 460–466. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/–333934365_CHALLENGES_OF_DEAF_AND_HEARING-IMPAIRED_CHILDREN
Hermon, S. (2002). Gifted students with disabilities. https://gifted.tki.org.nz/assets/Uploads/files/Gifted-students-with-disabilities.pdf
June Maker, C., & Rooks-Ellis, D. (2009). Inquiry: A teaching approach for gifted visually impaired learners. Gifted Education International, 25(2), 172–187. https://www.researchgate.net/pub–lication/254094757
Kaufman, S. B. (Ed.). (2018). Twice exceptional: Supporting and educating bright and creative students with learning difficulties. Oxford University Press.
Kiswarday, V. (2017). Dvojna izjemnost: ustvarjanje spodbudnega učnega okolja za učence, ki so dvojno izjemni. Vzgoja, 19(76), 5–8.
Kiswarday, V. (2018). Individualiziran program v inkluziji. In M. Schmidt Krajnc, D. Rus Kolar, & E. Kranjec (Eds.), Vloga inkluzivnega pedagoga v vzgoji in izobraževanju (pp. 47–58). Univerzitetna založba Univerze v Mariboru.
Košnik, P. (2025). Navodila za prilagojeno izvajanje izobraževalnega programa osnovne šole z dodatno strokovno pomočjo… Zavod RS za šolstvo.
Košnik, P., Plavčak, D., Vovk-Ornik, N., Pulec Lah, S., & Mohar, M. (2023). Smernice za pripravo in spremljanje individualiziranega programa. Zavod RS za šolstvo. https://www.dlib.si/stream/U–RN:NBN:SI:DOC-HWNGCMZI
Lee, M. K., & Olenchak, F. R. (2015). Individuals with a gifted/attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder diagnosis: Identification, performance, outcomes, and interventions. Gifted Education International, 31(3), 185–199. https://doi.org/10.1177/0261429414530712
Lep, B. (2012). Dvojno izjemni otroci – nadarjeni učenci s specifičnimi učnimi težavami. In T. Bezić (Ed.), Vzgojno-izobraževalno delo z nadarjenimi učenci. (pp. 67–80). Zavod RS za šolstvo.
Lep, B. (2015). Prepoznavanje dvojno izjemnih učencev na komisiji za usmerjanje otrok s posebnimi potrebami. Šolsko svetovalno delo, 19(1–2), 24–32. https://www.dlib.si/stream/URN:NBN–:SI:DOC-0UZ31FPS
Lep, B. (2020). Podpora dvojno izjemnim učencem v šoli. Vzgoja in izobraževanje, 51(1–2), 23–28.
Lovett, B. J., & Sparks, R. L. (2011). The identification and performance of gifted students with learning disability diagnoses: A quantitative synthesis. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 44(4), 304–315.
Madaus, J., Tarconish, E., Langdon, S. W., & Gelbar, N. (2022). High school and transition experience of twice exceptional students with autism spectrum disorder. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.–gov/pmc/articles/PMC9549122/
Magajna, L. (2007). Prepoznavanje in razumevanje nadarjenih učencev s specifičnimi motnjami učenja. In M. Kavkler & M. Košak Babuder (Eds.), Učenci s specifičnimi učnimi težavami (pp. 167–180). Društvo Bravo.
Magajna, L. (2010). Kognitivni in metakognitivni vidiki funkcioniranja nadarjenih učencev s specifičnimi motnjami učenja. In I. Andolšek & M. Hudoklin (Eds.), Izzivi in pasti otroštva in adolescence (pp. 7–21). Svetovalni center Ljubljana.
McFadden, J. (2017). Identifying and supporting twice-exceptional students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Journal of Educational Leadership in Action, 4(2). https://digitalcommons.linde–nwood.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1055&context=ela
Montgomery, D. (2015). Teaching gifted children with special educational needs: Supporting dual and multiple exceptionality. Routledge.
Mullet, D. R., & Rinn, A. N. (2015). Giftedness and ADHD: Identification, misdiagnosis, and dual diagnosis. Roeper Review, 37(4), 195–207.
Neihart, M. (2003). Gifted children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. https://ww–w.ldonline.org/ld-topics/gifted-ld/gifted-children-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder
Neihart, M. (2008). Identifying and providing services to twice-exceptional children. Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 31(1), 93–112.
Neumann, L. C. (2004). Accommodating 2e students. Twice-Exceptional Newsletter, 7(1), 9–13. https://2ecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/2e_Newsletter_Issue_7.pdf
Obed, N., Potočnik, N., & Vrhovski, M. (2020). Močna področja pri učencih s posebnimi potrebami – ozaveščanje in beleženje. Vzgoja in izobraževanje, 51(1–2), 30–35. https://www.zrss.si/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/05_NikaObed-idr.pdf
Pemberton, J. A. (2004). Identifying and serving gifted students with learning disabilities… (Doctoral dissertation). OhioLINK. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1090339–595
Reis, S. M., & Renzulli, J. S. (2004). Current research on the social and emotional development of gifted and talented students. Psychology in the Schools, 41(1), 119–130.
Reis, S. M., Baum, S. M., & Burke, E. (2014). An operational definition of twice-exceptional learners. Gifted Child Quarterly, 58(3), 217–230.
Rooks, D. L., & June Maker, C. (2009). Inquiry: A teaching approach for gifted visually impaired learners. Gifted Education International, 25(2), 172–187.
Strokovna izhodišča posodobitve koncepta odkrivanja nadarjenih otrok… (2019). Zavod RS za šolstvo.
Tomlinson, C. A. (2014). The differentiated classroom. ASCD.
Tomlinson, C. A. (2017). How to differentiate instruction in academically diverse classrooms. ASCD.
Trail, B. A. (2022). Twice-exceptional gifted children: Understanding, teaching, and counseling gifted students. Routledge.
Vovk Ornik, N., Deutsch, T., Košnik, P., Plavčak, D., & Rogelj, S. (2023). Zagotavljanje enakih možnosti v izobraževanju. Zavod RS za šolstvo. https://www.zrss.si/pdf/zagotavljanje_enakih_mo–%C5%BEnosti_PP.pdf
Watson, S. (2019). IEP – Individual education program. https://www.thoughtco.com/iep-individual-education-program-3111299
Winebrenner, S. (2003). Teaching strategies for twice-exceptional students. Intervention in School and Clinic, 38(3), 131–137.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Sandra Hrenič, Mojca Kukanja Gabrijelčič, Vanja Riccarda Kiswarday

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.