Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Regions Harbor Regional Center in LA

I have a 6 year old that I think may be 2e, aspergers & gifted or just gifted. I am not sure. A friend recommended Harbor Regional Center for assessment. They are a CA state run program and their services are free (which my husband really likes). HRC assesses for learning disabilities and autism spectrum issues. They do not test for giftedness. But, when I talk to the person at HRC, she said they will test IQ and achievement. They are generally looking for mental retardation, clearly not our issue, but she said they will not cap the test at a certain level. She also said they have tested gifted children who are on the spectrum and receive services for the autism at HRC. Does anyone have experience with assessments at HRC? Thanks. [I have posted this discussion in Assessments, Region, and 2e forums.]

Hi Morubin,
Welcome,
so glad you found us - were we easy to find?

I don't have any personal experience with HRC, but there really isn't any special test for gifteness - IQ and achievement are the basis of most identifications.

You are obviously very savy in asking if they cap the test, and it's great that they don't. Also very savy to ask if being gifted procludes them from giving services, and great news to hear that it doesn't.

It seems like this is a good place to start - the only possible downside is if there is a misdiagnosis based on lack of awareness of gifted issues, that can be emotionally expensive, but if you read
in advance that should give you some emotional protection.

Do ask to get the raw scores and scaled scores of each part of the IQ and Achievement tests because with quirky kids, a Full Scale IQ score doesn't tell much. Sort of like the average between My Income and Oprah's -


I wish we had more members with local connections -
Try
http://www.cagifted.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=127
and contact those contact people.

Love and More Love,
Grinity