Obtaining Supports in the School System for Twice-Exceptional Kids with Dr. Melissa Durtschi (Episode #65)

By Vision Beyond Sight on Autism, dyslexia, Gifted, podcast, Vision Beyond Sight

Dr. Lynn Hellerstein of Vision Beyond Sight speaks with Dr. Melissa Durtschi, licensed Gifted Specialist, Doctor of Education, and Director of Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Services at Navigating Education. Dr. Durtschi talks about obtaining supports in the school system for twice-exceptional kids, and dives on educational inequities, different learning profiles, understanding dyslexia, and accommodations in schools.

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Educational inequities with regards to giftedness, disabilities and race
Twice-exceptional students – masked disabilities and different demonstrations of learning
Visual-spatial and other kinds of thinking
Coping strategies for kids who have a different learning profiles
What is and what is not dyslexia?
School supports and interventions – Tier 1, 2 and 3
How processing difficulties show in the classroom
First steps on how to screen your kids
Accommodations – 504s vs. IEPs
Following your parent gut

About Dr. Melissa Durtschi, EDD:

Dr. Melissa Dayle Durtschi is a mother, wife, teacher, and Doctor of Education. Her journey to her doctoral degree began when one of her twin daughters, Abigail, was diagnosed with Dyslexia before her 1st grade school year. Dr. Durtschi soon realized she wanted to create pathways for other families navigating the educational system. Dr. Durtschi has 20 years of educational experience. Part of her journey includes pursuing her dream of obtaining a Doctoral Degree. She chose to focus on Educational Equity and its implications in education. Her experience in her doctoral program included focused work in giftedness, disabilities, twice-exceptionality, and racial inequities. She now owns and is the Director of Navigating Education.

Connect with Dr. Melissa Durtschi and Navigating Education:

Website | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

“Many times, a lot of kids that I work with have this internal monologue of ‘Something’s wrong with me,’ when it’s not actually something necessarily wrong. It’s just they process a different way and that’s okay and they need to have some coping strategies. Just like if I’m teaching a child to read, sometimes I also need to teach a child to understand what their learning profile is on how they learn best and how they can navigate through. ‘Okay. Sequential things are really difficult for me. How do I make a system that works for me? Do I need to color-code things? Do I need to have a check list? Do I need to have my watch give me a reminder?’ Things like that—accommodations—to help with that sequential piece so that they can express their ideas through creativity and things like that, and embrace all of that. And also, I have to turn things in, so I need to have reminders for myself on turning things in.” – Dr. Melissa Durtschi

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Dr. Lynn Hellerstein, Developmental Optometrist, co-owner of Hellerstein & Brenner Vision Center, P.C., award-winning author and international speaker, holds powerful and inspiring conversations with her guests in the areas of health, wellness, education, sports and psychology. They share their inspirational stories of healing and transformation through their vision expansion. Vision Beyond Sight Podcast will help you see with clarity, gain courage and confidence. Welcome to Vision Beyond Sight!

Dr. Lynn’s books are available at Amazon.com and www.lynnhellerstein.com/shop.

Dr. Lynn is available for speaking engagements and consulting. For more information, visit www.lynnhellerstein.com.

To learn more about vision therapy or to find a doctor providing vision therapy in your area, visit: COVD.org.

To learn more about vision and the impact in concussion/brain injury, visit: Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association.