Invisible Accommodations for Twice-Exceptional Students: Designing Support that Protects Rigor, Dignity, and Belongin
Twice-exceptional students often need real accommodations to access learning, yet many resist or avoid them when supports feel stigmatizing, identity-threatening, or separated from advanced-level challenge. This session helps gifted program coordinators and school leaders rethink accommodations as a feature of strong instructional design rather than a visible exception for a few students. You will learn how to embed high-impact supports into gifted and advanced learning environments so students can use what they need without being singled out. The session focuses on leadership and program-level levers: aligning identification and placement practices with twice-exceptional profiles, coaching teachers to normalize the use of learning tools and flexible pathways, and creating classroom routines that quietly remove barriers while keeping expectations high.
Jade Rivera
Elmbridge University
Jade Rivera, Ed.D. is the Lab Director of the Strength-Based Assessment Lab and Faculty at Elmbridge University (formerly Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education). In this role, she leads the Lab’s efforts to empower young people, families, educators, and professionals in creating positive and collaborative learning experiences for children facing challenges in their educational environments. Jade researches strength-based assessment and strength-based, talent-focused approaches for twice-exceptional children. A published author with Routledge, she has written numerous influential articles and blog posts and is a sought-after speaker at national conferences. She also leads impactful workshops for educators and parents, providing innovative strategies for supporting neurodivergent children.