The qualifying criteria for the DYS program has changed a lot over the years, becoming less stringent. I believe that a child can now qualify if s/he has a profound level of giftedness in one area?

Many parents are excited, receive conflicting messages, and have mixed feelings when their children are newly identified as gifted. It can take a while to absorb the plethora of information. The gifted community is a minority of the population. Profoundly gifted is more rare. In general, one is wise to not be "proud" of an innate level of intelligence which s/he did nothing to receive. One's inherited characteristics (degree of height, level of intelligence, etc) does not signal that they are more/less worthy... and if one acts at all special or superior about their "gifts", the general population may tend to respond with heaps of ill-will directed towards any/all in the gifted community... severely limiting opportunities for gifted kids to grow, develop, and find true peers.

Better to be proud of effort, persistence, resilience, achievements, accomplishment, etc... in other words, the work one does and the choices one makes in developing and applying one's gifts and abilities.

For continuing growth and development, kids need:
1) appropriate academic challenge
2) true peers
For typical kids, these needs may be met in a general ed classroom, however for children with higher IQ/giftedness, these needs may not be met without intentional effort in providing advanced curriculum, and grouping for instruction with academic/intellectual peers.

Individuals with 2e issues may tend to be known by their learning differences and learning disabilities, especially if these are pronounced, rather than being known for their intellectual gifts. The 2e issues may need to be identified, remediated, accommodated before a child can work effectively at their level of giftedness.

Some links which may be of interest in helping you learn about your child, and how to best help your child:
- resource - Understood
- resource - Wrightslaw
- resource - 2e newsletter
- SENG video: The Misdiagnosis of Gifted Children
- book: Misdiagnosis and Dual Diagnoses of Gifted Children and Adults
- old post with link to article comparing gifted characteristics and ASD characteristics
- post with checklist comparing gifted and ASD traits (hat tip to BananaGirl)
- post with link to Gifted Resource Center of New England (GRCNE) article comparing gifted and ASD traits (hat tip to Nolepharm).