The Bright & Quirky Child Summit Program

Ever wonder how to explain your bright & quirky child to a teacher, grandparent or other person in your child's village? Dr. Dan Peters shares a concise way to explain it. He also shares pearls of wisdom on raising twice exceptional (2e) kids and what to do in the heat of the moment when emotions run hot.  Dr. Dan also talks in depth about what a neuropsych assessment is and what to do if you don't live near a clinician who 'gets' bright & quirky kids or if an assessment is out of the budget. He talks about how to run problem-solving experiments for your child's particular challenge and how to keep hopeful when life gets challenging. 

Dan Peters, PhD, is a licensed psychologist who has devoted his career to the assessment, consultation and treatment of children, adolescents, and families, specializing in learning differences, anxiety, and issues related to giftedness and twice-exceptionality. He is passionate about helping parents and teachers engage children in the classroom, at home, and in life so that they can realize their full potential. Dr. Peters is co-founder and Executive Director of the Summit Center in California, and co-founder of Parent Footprint, an online interactive parent training program. He hosts the Parent Footprint Podcast with Dr. Dan, available on iTunes, Stitcher, Libsyn, and elsewhere. He is the author of Make Your Worrier a Warrior: A Guide to Conquering Your Child’s Fears, and other books. Dr. Peters blogs for Huffington Post and Psychology Today and writes and speaks on topics related to parenting, learning differences, and education.

RESOURCES:

Books:

• From Worrier to Warrior: A Guide to Conquering Your Fears

Website & Social Media:

• http://drdanpeters.com/
• https://parentfootprint.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/parentfootprint/
• Podcast
• Videos and Webinars

Clinic:

• https://summitcenter.us/

According to Dr. Laura Kastner, the best parenting style for our bright and quirky kids features an ingenious blend of challenge and support. Easier said than done! Learn from Dr. Kastner how to adapt your parenting style to fit your child, including how to calibrate support with gentle “nudges,” especially when we have started to habituate to some of our child’s less-than-desirable behaviors. Dr. Kastner talks about how to:

• Use her C-A-L-M model to keep your cool and build a positive relationship with your child
• Replace being “right” as a parent with being “effective”
• Get more compliance from your 2e child by turning off the lectures and engaging them with the key skill of empathy

Dr. Kastner received her doctorate in Psychology from University of Virginia. Currently a clinical professor in the department of psychology and the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington, Dr. Kastner has also taught in pediatrics, adolescent medicine, and the medical school. The topics of her academic publications include adolescent sexuality, chronic illness, eating disorders, adolescent development, behavioral pediatrics and medical education. Dr. Kastner is a frequent speaker at conferences, workshops and forums on adolescent development and family relationships. She is an author of five books written for parents on child development and parenting. In her clinical practice, she sees children, adolescents, couples and families.

RESOURCES:

Books: 

• Getting to Calm, The Early Years: Cool-headed Strategies for Raising Caring, Happy, and Independent 3-7 Year Olds
• Getting to Calm: Cool-Headed Strategies for Parenting Tweens + Teens
• Wise Minded Parenting: 7 Essentials for Raising Successful Tweens + Teens

Website & Social Media:

• www.laurakastnerphd.com 
• www.facebook.com/laurakastnerphd/

There's a reason Dr. Devon's recent video on Neurodiversity is going viral with over 28 million views. She offers a timely paradigm shift away from the deficit model and towards a universal acceptance and appreciation of neurodiversity as an evolutionary and societal advantage that is as critical to human existence as biodiversity. She unpacks the question so many of us ask - do we change our bright and quirky children to fit their environment, or do we change the environment to fit our child? Dr. Devon offers a poignant and fresh perspective that leaves parents feeling a sigh of relief, excited, and empowered to re-focus our efforts in ways that more closely reflect our individual family values, including what feels right for our 2e kids. The result is greater ease, fewer battles, and happier kids moving towards their greatest potential. If ever there was a talk to share with a friend or family member who you wish could understand your child a bit better, this is it! 

Devon MacEachron, PhD is a licensed psychologist in private practice on the Upper East Side in Manhattan. She conducts psychoed and neuropsych assessments focused on uncovering the student’s complete profile of strengths and weaknesses as a learner in order to provide an action plan to families that simultaneously further develops strengths and interests while remediating and accommodating weaker skill areas. She is especially knowledgeable about twice-exceptional and gifted learners whose strengths often camouflage their weaknesses, resulting in unexpected performance below the student’s potential. She works with school-age students through young adults. She has an active social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, and blogs on giftedness, twice-exceptionality, being wired differently, the strengths associated with learning disabilities, achievement, and success.

RESOURCES:

Website & Social Media:

• https://drdevon.com/ 
• https://www.facebook.com/devon.maceachron

Dr. Dan Siegel shares a profound and fascinating approach to helping all 2e children, and especially those exhibiting symptoms of depression. Grounded in Interpersonal Neurobiology, Dr. Siegel shares concepts and strategies that impact a child's relational world, with both parents and peers, that have a significant effect on well-being through neurotransmitter functioning. Dr. Siegel discusses:

• The imperative of doing the "inside work" of parenting, including understanding your own expectations and childhood experiences, so you can be fully present and responsive to your child's needs
• How the boredom and disconnection many 2e students experience can promote depressive symptoms
• The significance of a child's sense of "belonging" with environments and like-minded humans, and how a parent can promote this (including evaluating current learning environments)
• To medicate or not? Dr. Siegel shares a few ideas on what to consider first before medicating your child's symptoms of depression.

(Look for Dr. Siegel's fascinating 'Prequel' on the science behind this subject in a separate talk called 'Deep Mechanisms of the 2e Brain' on Day 7, Session #5)

Dr. Siegel is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine and the founding co-director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center at UCLA. He is also the Executive Director of the Mindsight Institute which focuses on the development of mindsight, which teaches insight, empathy, and integration in individuals, families and communities. Dr. Siegel has published extensively for both the professional and lay audiences. His five New York Times bestsellers are: Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence, Mind: A Journey to the Heart of Being Human, Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain, and two books with Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D:The Whole-Brain Child and No-Drama Discipline. His other books include: The Developing Mind(2ndEd.), Mindsight,The Mindful Brain, andThe Yes Brain (also with Tina Payne Bryson, PhD.

RESOURCES:

Books:

• Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence--The Groundbreaking Meditation Practice
• The Yes Brain: How to Cultivate Courage, Curiosity, and Resilience in Your Child
• Parenting from the Inside Out: How a Deeper Self-Understanding Can Help You Raise Children Who Thrive: 10th Anniversary
• The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind
• Mind: A Journey to the Heart of Being Human (Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology)
• No-Drama Discipline: The Whole-Brain Way to Calm the Chaos and Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind
• Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain
• The Developing Mind, Second Edition: How Relationships and the Brain Interact to Shape Who We Are

Website & Social Media:

• www.drdansiegel.com
• https://www.facebook.com/drdansiegel

Parents of 2e kids all know how difficult it can be to navigate the school system and to advocate for the needs of our very bright and quirky kids. Dr. Schuster carefully lays out a roadmap for both understanding and navigating this process. In his information packed talk, he answers pressing parent questions like:

• Where should parents start when kids begin to have trouble in school.
• What if my child needs both gifted ed, and special ed?
• How do I know what school environment is right for my child, and how do I know when it’s time for a change?
• What key players should I recruit to be on our “team” of advocates, and what roles will they play?

Kenneth Schuster, PsyD, is a neuropsychologist in the Learning and Development Center and Director of Clinical Training at the Child Mind Institute. Dr. Schuster has extensive experience conducting diagnostic evaluations, as well as neuropsychological, developmental, educational and personality assessments in children as young as 18 months and across the life span. He specializes in evaluating and working with individuals struggling with issues related to ADHD and learning disorders. He also provides individual psychotherapy, organizational skills support and writing remediation.

RESOURCES:

Website & Social Media:

• https://childmind.org/
• https://www.facebook.com/ChildMindInstitute/

Clinic Location:

• Child Mind Institute
  101 East 56th Street, New York, NY 10022

Talk about a dream team! Moving from the traditional deficit model, Dr. Susan Baum and Dr. Robin Schader assert that the most helpful thing we can do is focus in on our 2e child’s strengths and interests, as this is the gateway to engagement, skill building, connection, and lifelong success. Rather than focusing on remediating weaknesses, they explain how to: 

• Leverage strengths in order to build skills in other areas.

• Get around deficits and still meet or exceed expectations.

• Find the balance of developing talents without “dimming the light.”

• Implement Starting with Strength Days at your school.

• Use their Learning Print tool for strength assessments (at home or school).

• Bring more joy to your family, growing interests and becoming more connected.

Susan Baum, Ph.D. directs the 2e Center for Research and Professional Development at Bridges Academy. Susan is widely published in the field of gifted education including her seminal book (in its 3rd edition), To Be Gifted and Learning Disabled. Her expertise in twice exceptionality earned her many awards including the Weinfield Group’s, Lifetime Achievement Award, Connecticut Association for Gifted’s Friend of the Gifted Award, and Distinguish Professional Alumni Award from the UCONN School of Education.

RESOURCES:

Books:

• To Be Gifted and Learning Disabled: Strength-Based Strategies for Helping Twice-Exceptional Students With LD, ADHD, ASD, and More (3^rd)
• Multiple Intelligences in the Elementary Classroom: A teacher's toolkit
• Creativity 1, 2, 3

Website & Social Media:

• https://www.bridges.edu/
• https://www.facebook.com/BridgesAcademy/

Robin Schader received her Ph.D. in Gifted and Talented Education from the University of Connecticut. Her work and research focus on talent development, particularly with respect to the role of parents. Dr. Schader served as Parent Resource Specialist for the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) for ten years. Robin is currently a trustee of Bridges Academy, a school for 2e students, as well as on the executive board of the 2e Center for Research and Professional Development.This past year, Susan Baum and Robin Schader published the award-winning 3rd edition of To Be Gifted and Learning Disabled: Strength-Based Strategies for Helping Twice-Exceptional Students with LD, ADHD, and More.

RESOURCES:

Books:

• To Be Gifted and Learning Disabled: Strength-Based Strategies for Helping Twice-Exceptional Students With LD, ADHD, ASD, and More (3^rd)

Website & Social Media:

• https://www.bridges.edu/
• https://graduateschool.bridges.edu/
• https://www.2enews.com/

No matter what all we do to support our kids outside of school, whether or not our kids are getting the most out of their education remains a continual source of worry and fear. Dr. Barry Prizant offers strategies and solutions to navigating the IEP and 504 process, stemming from years of consulting with schools and families on how best to accommodate and support 2e students. In his talk, Dr. Prizant explains:

• How to help your child's teacher understand their unique gifts and challenges
• Quick and easy ways for teachers to meet the individual needs of even their most challenging students. 
• How parents can approach school meetings with assertiveness, but not aggression.
• How to identify exactly what supports your child needs, and then the best way to advocate for them. 
• When a change of school environment might be necessary.

Dr. Barry Prizant is recognized as one of the world’s leading scholars in autism spectrum disorders and communication disabilities, with more than 40 years experience as a researcher and international consultant for individuals with ASD and related disabilities. He is a certified Speech-Language Pathologist, an Adjunct Professor at Brown University, and Director of Childhood Communication Services, a private practice. He is a member of the Professional Advisory Board of the Autism Society of America. Publications include four books, 130 chapters and articles and The SCERTS Modelmanuals, an educational approach now being implemented in more than a dozen countries. Barry has presented more than 800 seminars and keynote addresses internationally. His most recent book is Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism, winner of the 2017 Autism Society of America’s Temple Grandin Award for Outstanding Literary Work.

RESOURCES:

Books:

• Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism
• The Scerts Model: A Comprehensive Educational Approach for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders (2 volume set)

Website & Social Media:

• https://barryprizant.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/BarryPrizant

Founder of the wildly popular Art of Problem Solving, Richard Rusczyk walks us down the career path for our bright and quirky kids who only receive traditional math instruction in school. He shares his personal journey, his reason for nearly quitting, and the transformation that shifted his entire trajectory. He explains:

• What traditional math instruction is all about, and why it isn’t enough.
• How the Art of Problem Solving transforms the way we think about not just math problems, but any problem at all.
• How this translates to a successful, reliable career path.
• The social and emotional benefits of connecting with peers around shared interests, like in his Art of Problem Solving groups.

Art of Problem Solving was founded by Richard Rusczyk in 2003 to create interactive educational opportunities for avid math students. Richard is one of the co-authors of the Art of Problem Solving classic textbooks, author of Art of Problem Solving's Introduction to Algebra, Introduction to Geometry, and Precalculus textbooks, co-author of Art of Problem Solving's Intermediate Algebra and Prealgebra, one of the co-creators of the Mandelbrot Competition, and a past Director of the USA Mathematical Talent Search. He was a participant in National MATHCOUNTS, a three-time participant in the Math Olympiad Summer Program, and a USA Mathematical Olympiad winner (1989). He received the World Federation of National Mathematics Competitions Paul Erdös Award in 2014. He graduated from Princeton University in 1993, and worked as a bond trader for D.E. Shaw & Company for four years. AoPS marks Richard's return to his vocation - educating motivated students.

RESOURCES:

Books:

• The Art of Problem Solving, Vol. 1: The Basics
• The Art of Problem Solving, Vol. 2: And Beyond

Website & Social Media:

• https://artofproblemsolving.com/

Course Offerings:

• https://artofproblemsolving.com/school/catalog

Schools & Learning Centers:

• https://beastacademy.com/
• https://aopsacademy.org/

We all know that failure is a part of life that we learn and grow from, yet many of our 2e kids have low tolerance for failure and shut down at obstacles. From struggling student to PhD scientist, Collin shares his inspiring personal journey of overcoming learning differences to finding success doing what he loves! Collin talks about the ingredients that came together for him, from his own acceptance of his learning differences, to creating a resilient mindset that could tolerate failure, to learning how to self-advocate. Collin’s sometimes bumpy road to success was paved in personal perseverance and wonderful support from others, including parents, tutors, and teachers. Grab your older 2e kid and listen to this talk together for inspiration and motivation. In identifying with Collin’s journey, it may help generate new ideas and approaches to the roadblocks currently in your child’s way.

Dr. Collin Diedrich has a PhD in Molecular Virology and Microbiology from University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, a Certificate in Disability Legal Studies from University of Pittsburgh School of Law, and is a postdoctoral associate researching how HIV changes immunological responses to tuberculosis. Prior to his current position, Dr. Diedrich was a postdoctoral fellow at University of Cape Town in South Africa for approximately 3 years. Dr. Diedrich has multiple learning disabilities and is an advocate and professional speaker for students who have learning disabilities. He is also the founder and president of a newly formed non-profit, Learning Disabilities Association of Pennsylvania that will provide services to students and adults with learning disabilities and those affected by them. You can read more about Dr. Diedrich on his personal website: www.ldphd.org

Books:

• Dr. Diedrich is currently writing a memoir. It’s in its second draft. If you are interested in learning more please email Dr. Diedrich directly at: collin@ldphd.org or visit his personal website.

Website & Social Media:

• https://ldphd.org/

Dr. Hallowell treats us to his personal journey from a young boy with ADHD and several Adverse Childhood Experiences, to becoming a wildly successful husband, father, psychiatrist, author, and speaker. He shows us the keys to unlocking confidence, connection, strength, and community for our bright kids with ADHD. He speaks to the challenges of raising these bright and quirky kids, and offers supportive strategies for thriving as their parents.

Edward (Ned) Hallowell, MD, is a board-certified child and adult psychiatrist, a thought leader, a NY Times bestselling author, a world-renowned keynote speaker and a leading authority in the field of ADHD. He is the Founder of The Hallowell Centers in Boston MetroWest, New York City, San Francisco and Seattle. He is a graduate of Harvard College and Tulane Medical School and was a Harvard Medical School faculty member for 21 years. Dr. Hallowell now devotes his full professional attention to his clinical practice at the Hallowell Centers, speaking to audiences around the world, writing books and hosting the Distraction podcast. He has authored 20 books on various psychological topics, including ADHD (and the 1994 Driven to Distraction that sparked a revolution in our understanding of ADHD), the power of human connection, the childhood roots of adult happiness, how to help your people SHINE, forgiveness, managing worry and managing your “crazy busy” lives. His Memoir, Because I Come From A Crazy Family The Making Of A Psychiatrist was released June 12, 2018.

RESOURCES:

Books:

• Driven to Distraction (Revised): Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder
• Because I Come from a Crazy Family: The Making of a Psychiatrist
• Delivered from Distraction: Getting the Most out of Life with Attention Deficit Disorder
• Superparenting for ADD: An Innovative Approach to Raising Your Distracted Child:
• The Childhood Roots of Adult Happiness: Five Steps to Help Kids Create and Sustain Lifelong Joy:

Website & Social Media:

• http://www.drhallowell.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/DrHallowell/

Clinics:

• Boston, NYC, San Francisco, Seattle http://www.drhallowell.com/the-hallowell-centers/

Elaine understands that parents of bright kids with ADHD often feel chaos, frustration, and overwhelm. She shows us her proven strategies for handling any challenging situation with ease, and how to take aim to reach specific goals with realistic expectations. She shows us how to include our 2e child in this process to guarantee success while building their self-management and decision making skills. Elaine gets us asking the right kinds of questions that will shift the family dynamic from chaos to calm, meeting our 2e kids where they are at and creating lasting change for the whole family.

Elaine Taylor-Klaus, PCC, CPCC -- certified coach, author, co-Founder of ImpactADHD®, and co-creator of Sanity School®. A sought after speaker for parents and educators, Elaine provides training, coaching and support for parents and teachers of “complex” kids -- around the globe, online and on the phone. A lifelong advocate for public health, Elaine has served on Georgia’s Governor’s Council for Maternal and Infant Health and as a parent advisor for the American Academy of Pediatrics. Regularly featured in ADDitude and Attention magazines, she is the co-author of Parenting ADHD Now! Easy Intervention Strategies to Empower Kids with ADHD, and the mother of 3 young adults an ADHD Family of 5. Find a wealth of resources on her award-winning blog at ImpactADHD.com.

RESOURCES:

Books:

• Parenting ADHD Now!: Easy Intervention Strategies to Empower Kids with ADHD 

Website & Social Media:

• http://www.impactadhd.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/ImpactADHD/

Guide:

• https://impactadhd.com/freebie/bright/

Seth Perler’s upbeat, solution oriented talk is packed with easy to implement strategies to help your struggling student overcome disorganization, incomplete and late work, resistance, and lack of motivation. He explains how to implement his signature program called the Sunday Night Overhaul, and how to tackle the resistance that we so commonly face when trying to help our 2e learners. He shows parents how to find the sweet spot of providing challenge just beyond their comfort zone, without pushing them over the edge. Seth Perler’s strategies have time and time again shifted the trajectory of kids on the path to failure, and re-aligned them with success, motivation, and confidence.

Seth Perler is an Executive Function & 2e Coach in Boulder, CO, who helps make life easier for students who struggle with homework, motivation, underachievement, organization, grades, focus, study skills, time management, emotions, overwhelm & resistance. He empowers these complicated, misunderstood, outside-the-box, neurodiverse learners to turn it around in a baffling system, so they can launch a successful future. His SethPerler.com blog gives parents and teachers game-changing answers in a sea of misguided educational fluff.

RESOURCES:

Website & Social Media:

• https://sethperler.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/SethPerler/

In his talk, Ashanti Branch drills to the heart of the human experience that we can all relate with - not feeling seen, valued, or understood. He understands the challenges kids of color, often young boys, as well as many of our bright and quirky kids face when they are viewed from a deficit lens. He shares tools, strategies, exercises, and community involvement ideas that all aim to:

• Get even your most shut down or reluctant kids to open up
• Increase self-awareness and self-acceptance
• Get them more involved in things they are interested in
• Elevate strengths and naturally raise self-confidence
• Find their path and become alive!

Ashanti Branch works to change how young men of color interact with their education and how their schools interact with them. Raised in Oakland by a single mother on welfare, Ashanti left the inner city to study civil engineering at Cal Poly – San Luis Obispo. A construction project manager in his first career, his life changed after he tutored struggling students and realized his passion for teaching. In 2004, during Ashanti’s first year teaching high school math, he started The Ever Forward Club to provide support for African American and Latino males who were not achieving to their potential. Since then, Ever Forward has helped all of its more than 150 members graduate from high school, and 93% of them have gone on to attend two- or four-year colleges, military or trade school.

RESOURCES:

Books:

• The Masks We Wear

Website & Social Media:

• https://everforwardclub.org/

Other Resources:

• 100 Masks Challenge
• Understanding Our Youth: A Dialog with Teenagers
• Big Ideas Fest 2014: Young Men’s Emotional Toolbox