The Advocacy Experiences of Parents of Elementary Age, Twice-Exceptional Children

Abstract

For many parents, successfully advocating for their twice-exceptional child can be intimidating and overwhelming. Using grounded theory, we conducted a study with parents ( n = 8) of elementary age, twice-exceptional children to learn about their advocacy experiences. Findings revealed that parents simultaneously advocated for their child’s disability and protected their child’s giftedness. This overarching theme influenced parents’ expectations of their local school system, while highlighting their lack of professional knowledge. All participants wanted their child to maximize her or his potential and not be limited by her or his disability. Data gathered from individual interviews and focus group sessions revealed that all parents struggled with developing advocacy strategies to manage their child’s dual diagnosis. Only after parents acquired professional knowledge about educational terminology and official policies, were they able to become successful advocates. The lack of readily available resources focusing on twice-exceptional children was an obstacle to successful advocacy. Suggestions for future research and collaboration are discussed.

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