Twice-exceptional Students

Twice-exceptional (2E) students are those who have learning disabilities AND who are gifted in superior cognitive ability, specific academic ability (reading/writing, math, science, and/or social studies), creative thinking ability, and/or ability in the visual and performing arts. Inconsistencies in a student’s abilities may be an indicator of twice-exceptionality. Identifying twice-exceptional students can be challenging because their areas of giftedness may compensate for their learning disabilities, and conversely, their disabilities may mask their giftedness. The Ohio Department of Education & Workforce's Twice Exceptional Guide lists characteristics of students who are twice-exceptional and describes strategies and interventions for addressing learning disabilities while building on areas of strength.