Consultation Services
Review and Interpretation of Past Evaluations
Reviewing and interpreting evaluation from neuropsychologists and psychologists in the light of giftedness can give a different perspective to examiner findings. By examining these reports and sometimes test protocols, additional questions may be raised. By adding some new data by observations and checklists, parents can be pointed in new directions for resources, further evaluation, or additional recommendations.
Initial Evaluations to Determine Other Services Needed
This type of consultation includes an interview with parents and child. Initially parents have a question that they would like to answer about giftedness, how to enhance learning, or behavior issues at school or home. By using parent and consultant’s observations, parent checklists, and significant history, a direction to search for resources can be determined.
Interviews of Very Young Children and Their Parents
This type of consultation helps parents to determine enrichment, possible resources to look for, discusses signs of possible giftedness and/or disability especially in children under age six.
Children under the age of six can show many signs of giftedness yet be too young to formally test effectively. By use of parent interviews of the history of developmental milestones, child interests and accomplishments, early academic achievement, and social and emotional functioning, recommendations for advancement and enrichment can be made for very young children in areas of giftedness. For children with possible 2e issues, suggestions for further evaluation can be discussed.
Resources to Look for in the Community and What is Needed to Approach a School About Curriculum Adjustment
This type of consultation explores the child’s interests, building on current strengths and developing weaker areas. Also, introducing young children to new areas of potential interest and ability can be part of recommendations.
We discuss with parents how to approach schools, what resources might be available within the school or can be introduced to a school and what documentation parents might need to show schools the levels of advancement in their child.
While we do not offer direct school consultation, we can talk with teachers, make recommendations on how to enrich curriculum and what might be some ways to provide advancement in areas such as reading and mathematics.
Issues Related to Homeschooling
We have provided many parents with the support needed to make the decision to homeschool, worked with them on negotiating the regulations of their home school district and helped them find some resources for homeschooling their particular children.
Each family is unique and so there is no one schooling program that fits all homeschoolers. There are, however, ways to develop your own broad overview and perspective of what you would like your child’s education to be. Homeschooling can be effective for many gifted children including those who are exceptionally and profoundly gifted or have ADHD or ASD.
Ongoing support is also useful and can help with decisions around particular children’s strengths and weaknesses, refusals to do work and other behavior issues, decisions about taking above level courses in the community or online, and if, when and how to decide to return to formal schooling.