2019 Bridges 2e Center 
Declaration of Equity in Education and Inclusion of Twice-Exceptional Persons

On October 11, 2019, participants at the Bridges 2e Center for Research and Professional Development’s Vision and Leadership Symposium gathered to discuss promoting respect for and inclusion of cognitively diverse people at school, at home, and in the workplace. The discussion arose from concerns about cognitively diverse individuals’ personal and career opportunities, as well as their overall quality of life. For instance, neurodiverse persons have higher rates of unemployment, poverty, and mental health issues. During formal schooling, their learning needs often exceed the capacity and expertise of many K-12 schools, leading to unstable educational trajectories and untapped potential. Once in the workforce, neurodiverse job seekers and employees encounter a culture with expectations, mandates, and routines that can impede their success, also depriving corporations of the unique contributions of neurodiverse workers. In the midst of these and other factors, families need information and guidance to support their neurodiverse children and relatives.

As such, the concerned parties drafted this declaration in support of twice-exceptional and other cognitively diverse individuals:

IN THE HOME

•INTELLECTUAL & COGNITIVE — Twice-exceptional persons are entitled to: talent development opportunities and mentors; protection of unstructured time to decompress; and space for imagination

•SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL — Twice-exceptional persons are entitled to: positive communication (e.g., patience, care, support, love); parent modeling (e.g., self-care, self-advocacy, relationships); instillation of joy and confidence (e.g., access to joyful activities, facilitation of talent development, and foundations of autonomy); and reenvisioned definitions of “normal” and what a child “has to do”

•PHYSICAL — Twice-exceptional persons are entitled to: areas for movement, quiet and rejuvenation; having their sensory needs met; spaces that are flexible, dynamic, and open to change; the availability of materials/resources to support exploration of interests (with sensitivity to stimuli); and visual resources for organization and time management (e.g., clocks, whiteboards with schedules)

•CREATIVE — Twice-exceptional persons are entitled to: focus on the process, not the outcome; awe and wonder in everyday life, finding interests and inspiration; and trust in the timeline and process of their journey in life

AT SCHOOL

•INTELLECTUAL & COGNITIVE — Twice-exceptional persons are entitled to: student-centered curriculum with dual differentiation (i.e., emphasis on real-world applications and accommodations across all courses, especially honors or advanced placement courses); an awareness of student strengths and appropriate learning strategies; fluid communication between family, school, teachers, and students; small class sizes; teachers and leaders who are intelligent and patient; and choices to support student’s agency in determining environment

•SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL — Twice-exceptional persons are entitled to: support with relationship building among peers and adults; strength-based instruction/talent development; flexibility with assignments, time, class schedule, deadlines; and an awareness of the impact of asynchronous development

•PHYSICAL — Twice-exceptional persons are entitled to: flexible space that is sensitive to sensory needs (e.g., sound-absorbing panels); seating variety; and free and open access to materials (e.g. craft materials, library)

•CREATIVE — Twice-exceptional persons are entitled to: permission to take risks; support for positive focus; psychological safety; and shared learning and openness to ideas

IN THE WORKPLACE

•INTELLECTUAL & COGNITIVE — Twice-exceptional persons are entitled to flexibility in timing and responsibility; a leveraging of strengths to achieve a fulfilling career; and a pairing of employees with mentors or compatible learners

•SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL — Twice-exceptional persons are entitled to flexibility in work spaces; mentoring and growth opportunities; and a culture of acceptance, curiosity, empathy, accountability, and courage

•PHYSICAL — Twice-exceptional persons are entitled to flexibility with timing, locations, and workspace (individual vs. group)

•CREATIVE — Twice-exceptional persons are entitled to autonomy: freedom to choose work spaces, teammates, how a task is accomplished, timing; mentors and support; and alternative forms to communicate ideas

The Bridges 2e Center for Research and Professional Development would like to thank everyone who contributed to the creation of this declaration:

Cameron Aaron, Janis Adams, Kimberly April, Laura Almo, Susan Assouline, Joe Assouline, J. Mark Bade, Lois Baldwin, Jon Baum, Michael Baum, Susan Baum, Kristen Bell, Kris Berman, Yvonne Blinde, Rose Blucher, Heather Brand, Barry Braverman, Eileen Brennan, Karen Breslow, Patrick Bromark, Edith Burke, Andrea Callaghan, Cristhian Camacho, Maratea Cantarella, Debbie Carroll, Joan Cass, JT Chaiyakam, Marisa Chrysochoou, Stephanie Coxon, Marcy Dann, Michael Dennis, Amy Faigin, Ann Farrow, Ley-Anne Folks, Sheryl Fox, Heidi Friedman, Terry Friedrichs, Matthew Fugate, Nicholas Gelbar, Max Goldberg, Janet Gore, Daniel Greenwood, Cindy Hansen, Kelly Hatfield, Melanie Hayes, Allison Hertog, Shama Hinard, Sue Hirsh, Jack Horner, Claire Hughes, Rachel Hunter, Maki Ichikawa, Lamis Jabri, Betsy Jones, Alexis Hopper, Amber McClarin, Kimberlee Joseph, Paul Kallee-Grover, Maria Kennedy, Jung Hwa Kim, Holly Kincaid, Corrine Kohlmeyer-Hyman, Abby Kirigin, Anahid Koumriqian, Lance Krieger, Ethel Krieger, Uyen Kry, Heather Lai, Bernadette Lee, Doug Lenzini, Jann Leppien, Melody Lowman, Teressa Lowrance, Caroline Lubbe, Devon MacEachron, Melissa Malen, Rachel McAnallen, Mary McInerney, Max Melby, Audrey Millan, Steve Miller, Ana Miro, Malcom Moore, Teresa Nair, Linda Neumann, Susan Ng, Hank Nicols, Desiree Ohrebeck, Harri O’Kelley, Rick Olenchak, Bonnie O’Regan, Tamara Paris, Stephanie Pepi, Dan Peters, Greg Pincus, Margie Power, Sharie Pulis, Randi Rasco, Deborah Reber, Sally Reis, Lynn Reno, Joe Renzulli, Sara Renzulli, Jade Rivera, Tom Ropelewski, Ellen Rosen, Adriana Roze, Carl Sabatino, Janet Saenz, Lorensa Salazar, Robin Schader, Laura Kakis Serper, Carmen Sevilla, Barbara Shufro, Ann Smith, Melissa Sornik, Kim Southerland, Debbie Steinberg Kuntz, Jamie Teigen, Nicole Tetreault, Jeffrey Thomas, Callie Turk, Kim Vargas, Chris Wiebe, David Wildkress, Caitie Wilson, Alisha Wilt, Catherine Wormald, Jordan Yost, and Linda Zanieski