“Dually exceptional” families: specifics, needs and problems

Abstract

Families blessed with a child with developmental disabilities or a gifted child are not typical families. Such families are exposed to specifics in day-to-day function, establishing interpersonal relationships and fulfilling their family roles. The object of research and studies carried out so far are twice-exceptional individuals, thus excluding the families with one gifted child and another with developmental disabilities. Dually exceptional families have dual challenges in providing additional individualized support for children, in two completely different ways, in two different directions. Based on the results and the analysis of case study of two dually different families, areas in which additional support is required by such families and parents are identified according to family functions, as well as recommendations as to how to empower these areas.

Keywords

• family
• gifted child
• child with developmental disabilities
• dually different families