Twice exceptional - what future holds?

[Worriedandlost]

DD1 is ASD and gifted in some areas (notably math and music not to mention some other :)). But it is very demotivating to know that she may never be in a position to realise any of her talents.
Does anyone have an example of real people (not Temple Grandin :)) who did it? Or example of children who significantly improved over time?
Thanks

[lougle]

Fred Epstein? Profoundly dyslexic, told he'd never pass elementary school. Eventually convinced people to let him demonstrate his knowledge orally. Became a pioneering neurosurgeon who operated on children who no one else would risk operating on, with great success.

[nonicknameseemsavailable]

I don't have any examples but DD1 has more than one spld as well as being extremely bright. I too feel it is a shame she might never reach her potential but I think my real concern is that she will be stuck in a situation of always struggling with one of her splds and yet having a brain that is moving so much faster she will find it worse than if she was just average intelligence with an spld.

thinking about it though how many of us reach our full potential for whatever reason? how many of us actually choose to do something way below our potential because we don't want the stress or are too lazy or because what we want to do just isn't being a rocket scientist. It may be that she will be perfectly happy in something that actually works well for her and her ASD.

How old is she? is she aware of her diagnosis and talents?

[Lonecatwithkitten]

My great uncle he was never able to tie his own shoe laces and retrospectively has been acknowledged as on the spectrum. He was a world renowned lecturer at Kings College Cambridge and an incredibly significant role at Bletchley Park (his true role has only emerged in the last two years).
Cambridge College life enormously suit him apart from his time t Bletchley he lived his entire adult life in college till the day he died.

[Worriedandlost]

nonicknameseemsavailable she is at infant school, quite young, therefore I did not give up hoping .
You are right of course about reaching potential, however if I did not reach my potential because I was lazy it means it was my choice, whilst DD may choose to work hard but still be restricted by her disability.

[Worriedandlost]

Great examples guys, thank you!

[nonicknameseemsavailable]

I know exactly what you mean, there is a difference between it being within your control and not but I think we are in a difficult position and as this is the way it IS there isn't much point us churning up emotions about something that we can't change. what we CAN do is try to make them as confident as we can, explain WHY they have the problems they do, reassure them that they can still do whatever they want to do and then we have to see what happens I suppose.

[herdream1]

Have you read about Jacob Barnett, who was diagnosed with autism at two, now studies master's degree in quantum physics?

[Worriedandlost]

herdream1 I did, but as I said at the beginning it would be nice to know examples of real people. I know he is real :) but... as he is a celebrity figure now it is a bit difficult to relate to it :)

[triballeader]

Possibly mine. Has Aspergers & ADHD as well as being G&T. Nearly 18 and still in 6th form. Not working as hard as he could grins believe me when he was hypserfocussing on maths he was a scary person to be around...... Opted to ditch maths in favour of computer based stuff part way through this year and caught up with the work in two weeks. Now having a ball at school. More interested in engineering/mechanical design and now having a lot more fun in life. He now has a few friends, some of whom are geekier than he is, helps run the school library, goes to a ordinary youth club, likes hill walking, does odd jobs repairing things and decided he does not want to go to UNI as he prefers the idea of entering a higher apprenticeship [earn and learn] All I can say is having a school willing to find ways to differentiate around his interests, a good Ed Psych who could work out the difference between core areas of giftedness and interests so things went together and a head of sixth form who accepts him as a lively eccentric with a lot to offer has all really helped. He also had the adavantage of starting in the special school system to give him the hand up with language and then into a very supportive and inclusive primary that worked with Autism outreach teams, CAMHS, SALTs and OT's. It is hard work at the time but its worth fighting for the right support as early as possible as it is this that can give twice exceptional kids a good crack at emerging from school with skills that can be used in the big real world outside of pure academia.

[nonicknameseemsavailable]

no named examples but I would be amazed if some of the people who cracked the enigma code weren't twice exceptional!

[SanityClause]

Winston Churchill was dyslexic, and a bit of a failure at school.

He once went back to make a speech for prize giving, which went like this,

"Never give up! Never give up! Never! Never! Never!"

[SanityClause]

What about Bill Gates? He's a bit of a good example.

[SanityClause]

Florence from Florence and the Machine is a musician with Aspergers, as is Gary Numan.

[Ineedmorepatience]

My Dd3 is also a talented musician with a dx of Asd. She has a great ear for music and is just about to take up her third instrument!

My cousin who is undiagnosed but undoubtably quirky is an accomplished musician who has made a career out of music.

Keep nurturing your Dd's talents and see what happens.

Good luck

[Picturesinthefirelight]

A child at dds school is autistic & a very talented dancer (ex TV show finalist)

Dd has asd & has been identified as having the potential for a career in musical theatre. (But its a vey new diagnoses & she has been having issues at school)