Building Bridges for Twice-Exceptional Students: A Case Study in a Secondary School

Twice-exceptional (2e) students, those who are both gifted and experience learning difficulties, are often overlooked in mainstream educational settings. This paper reports on a qualitative case study conducted in a secondary school in Western Australia, exploring the collaborative experiences of one 2e student, their educators, and their mother. Guided by the neurodiversity paradigm and a strengths-based approach, this study engaged the student, their mother, and educators in co-designing practices that addressed the student’s challenges while leveraging their interests and capabilities. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, written correspondence, work samples, and analysis of school and specialist reports. While the study found that collaboratively developed, personalised practices can enhance student engagement and wellbeing, it also revealed practical challenges, including time constraints, systemic rigidity, and limited staff understanding of 2e students. This study demonstrated the value and potential of teacher-led inquiry in promoting bespoke, strengths-based educational planning for 2e students, while highlighting the challenges of implementing such approaches within traditional school structures.