Hi Raoulpetite!
No offense taken.
I've been away for a few days, and love the posts you've collected. Yippee!
Here's another thought - in all of the US, the name I keep hearing over and over for Gifted + Learning Disability is Dr. Paul Beljan
Dr. Paul Beljan is a past president of the American Board of Pediatric Neuropsychology. He holds child and adult diplomate qualifications with the American Board of Pediatric Neuropsychology and the American Board of Professional Neuropsychology. Dr. Beljan co-wrote Misdiagnosis and Dual Diagnoses of Gifted Children and Adults, and has authored several chapters and articles in various publications. Dr. Beljan currently is working on his post doctoral master's degree in psychopharmachology. Dr. Beljan's professional focus is on Alcohol/Drug Related Neurodevelopmental Deficit (A/DRND), Gifted Intelligence, Learning Disorders, Traumatic Brain Injury, Trauma, and non-medication-based Attention and Executive Functioning Deficit interventions.
I signed up for a 'webchat' with him - not sure I like the format, but I do recommend that you sign up too and see what you think of this fellow, as someday you may want to come here and visit him.
Giftedness and Learning Disabilities:
Unearthing the Missed Diagnosis
Presented by Paul Beljan, PsyD, ABPdN
In this SENGinar, teachers, parents, and counselors will learn how to correctly diagnosis learning disabilities in gifted and talented children.
Characteristics of gifted and talented children can result in incorrect diagnoses, such as overlooking learning disabilities. Learning disabilities can take the form of academics (reading and math) or innate abilities in general learning that may relate to social learning.
In this SENGinar, Dr. Paul Beljan will review some of the basic tenants of giftedness that include intellect and asynchronous development. He will then turn to the nuts and bolts of learning disabilities: what they look like, how to assess them, and what to do about them in the contexts of the gifted population. The "discrepancy model" of learning disability will be dispelled in favor of understanding the brain basis of learning disabilities. Dr. Beljan will present several anecdotes and case examples to illustrate the process of learning disabilities.
I've never met him in person, but I have spoken to him over the phone, he's a man of strong ideas which his isn't hesitant about sharing. His phone call was very helpful at the time.
Smiles,
Grinity
