Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy So, here's an idea

I've been thinking about how difficult it is to convince schools to provide the most appropriate educations to bright kids, and how frustrating the process can be. The bottom line is that there is no law, no regulation, no nothing that compels the schools to treat bright kids the way they treated disabled kids: that is, with an individual plan for education.

So then I thought, "How can I find a way to apply the ADA law to bright kids?" As I understand the law, any child diagnosed as having some kind of "psycho-physical disability" has a right to an IEP.

This would involve using on what I described as "Gifted Kid syndrome" in a thread called "enrichment or rigor?" (It was suggested that I use the term "Enforced Underachievement".)

The key is transforming this problem from something that frustrates us and that the researchers write about into a diagnosable disability would give children a legal right to an IEP.

It can apply to a child of any age who is not allowed to work to her potential, who hates school because it numbs his mind, who does not acquire the study skills she needs to solve hard problems, whose grades fall because of lack of study skills or interest, etc. etc. etc.

Not a small undertaking, I know. But worth a try? Thoughts? A first step would probably be to apply for an NSF grant and get some experts in gifted kids on board.

Val

Hasn't some version of this been tried? I have no evidence--just a vague recollection from my own childhood long, long ago. But I seem to recall that many of the small strides that were made for gifted kids came under the umbrella of the laws protecting the disabled.

Is my faulty memory just making that up?

If not, then maybe you wouldn't have to reinvent the wheel. Maybe you can start where others left off...

I've often wondered if "Asynchronous Development"
http://www.stephanietolan.com/gt_as_asynch.htm
could be classified as a psycho-physical disability.

Your formulation of Enforced Underachievment is very clear and I would love to see in included in the "special educational unbrella."

Still on the other hand, there is part of me that bridles at the idea of my kid being labled with a disability because he doesn't fit the mold! I'm not sure his friend's parents would buy into that either. I'm not saying that "gifted kids can take care of themselves" but isn't there some place between there and a disability?

I ususlly repeat over and over to anyone who will listen,
'many gifted children, particularly unusually gifted children, have special educational needs.'

((shrug))
Trinity