Letter from the Publishers

June, 2005

Greetings from the publishers of 2e: Twice-Exceptional Newsletter. The focus of our June issue is autism spectrum disorders in gifted children. More readers and friends of 2e Newsletter have expressed an interest in this topic than in any other since we launched our publication in late 2003. Perhaps this interest reflects the growing number of children diagnosed with these disorders in recent years. One estimate puts the number of school children in the United States with ASDs at over 100,000.

Our cover article tells the story of a twice-exceptional child with Asperger Syndrome, a disorder often referred to as a mild form of autism and typified by difficulty with social interactions and repetitive patterns of behavior. The program developed for him at school, forged from a strong parent/school alliance, can serve as a model for the education of all 2e education, not just those with Asperger’s. Inside are two articles by psychologists Teresa Bolick and Deirdre Lovecky that provide insight into the combination of giftedness and Asperger’s. A review of Dr. Lovecky’s book, Different Minds: Gifted Children with AD/HD, Asperger Syndrome, and Other Learning Deficits, also appears in this issue.

Along with our regular columns and features, you’ll find an article by former educator and consultant Wendy Handrich. She shares her observations on what makes the home/school connection work for the benefit of 2e kids. In addition, we bring you coverage of the 2005 AEGUS conference, which took place in Denver earlier this spring.

As the school year draws to a close, we hope you’ll remember a favorite teacher or administrator with a gift subscription to 2e: Twice-Exceptional Newsletter.

We wish you a satisfying summer, whether in pursuit of edification, relaxation, or in some combination of the two.