Obtaining Supports in the School System for Twice-Exceptional Kids with Dr. Melissa Durtschi (Episode #65)

Dr. Melissa DurtschiDr. Lynn Hellerstein of Vision Beyond Sight speaks with Dr. Melissa Durtschi, licensed Gifted Specialist, Doctor of Education, and Director of Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Services at Navigating Education. Dr. Durtschi talks about obtaining supports in the school system for twice-exceptional kids, and dives on educational inequities, different learning profiles, understanding dyslexia, and accommodations in schools.

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  • Educational inequities with regards to giftedness, disabilities and race
  • Twice-exceptional students – masked disabilities and different demonstrations of learning
  • Visual-spatial and other kinds of thinking
  • Coping strategies for kids who have a different learning profiles
  • What is and what is not dyslexia?
  • School supports and interventions – Tier 1, 2 and 3
  • How processing difficulties show in the classroom
  • First steps on how to screen your kids
  • Accommodations - 504s vs. IEPs
  • Following your parent gut

About Dr. Melissa Durtschi, EDD:

Dr. Melissa Dayle Durtschi is a mother, wife, teacher, and Doctor of Education.  Her journey to her doctoral degree began when one of her twin daughters, Abigail, was diagnosed with Dyslexia before her 1st grade school year. Dr. Durtschi soon realized she wanted to create pathways for other families navigating the educational system.  Dr. Durtschi has 20 years of educational experience.  Part of her journey includes pursuing her dream of obtaining a Doctoral Degree.  She chose to focus on Educational Equity and its implications in education. Her experience in her doctoral program included focused work in giftedness, disabilities, twice-exceptionality, and racial inequities.  She now owns and is the Director of Navigating Education.

Connect with Dr. Melissa Durtschi and Navigating Education:

Website | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube 

“Many times, a lot of kids that I work with have this internal monologue of ‘Something’s wrong with me,’ when it’s not actually something necessarily wrong. It’s just they process a different way and that’s okay and they need to have some coping strategies. Just like if I’m teaching a child to read, sometimes I also need to teach a child to understand what their learning profile is on how they learn best and how they can navigate through. ‘Okay. Sequential things are really difficult for me. How do I make a system that works for me? Do I need to color-code things? Do I need to have a check list? Do I need to have my watch give me a reminder?’ Things like that—accommodations—to help with that sequential piece so that they can express their ideas through creativity and things like that, and embrace all of that. And also, I have to turn things in, so I need to have reminders for myself on turning things in.” – Dr. Melissa Durtschi

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Dr. Lynn Hellerstein, Developmental Optometrist, co-owner of Hellerstein & Brenner Vision Center, P.C., award-winning author and international speaker, holds powerful and inspiring conversations with her guests in the areas of health, wellness, education, sports and psychology. They share their inspirational stories of healing and transformation through their vision expansion. Vision Beyond Sight Podcast will help you see with clarity, gain courage and confidence. Welcome to Vision Beyond Sight!

Dr. Lynn’s books are available at Amazon.com and www.lynnhellerstein.com/shop.

Dr. Lynn is available for speaking engagements and consulting. For more information, visit www.lynnhellerstein.com.

To learn more about vision therapy or to find a doctor providing vision therapy in your area, visit: COVD.org.

To learn more about vision and the impact in concussion/brain injury, visit: Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association.

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About Dr. Lynn

A pioneer in vision therapy and developmental optometry, for more than 30 years, Dr. Lynn Hellerstein has helped thousands of children and adults improve their vision and transform their lives — at home, in the classroom, and most recently on the playing field. Her breakthrough methods unlock barriers to learning and “rewire” around brain injuries, and vision perception or processing deficits. But you don’t have to have a vision problem to benefit: her brain training strategies may be the missing magic if you’re an athlete trying to nail a tricky shot or stay cool in competition. If it’s a skill you can visualize, Dr. Hellerstein can help train your eyes — and mind’s eye — on success.

Award-winning and #1 bestselling author, Dr. Lynn has published numerous professional peer reviewed articles, chapters and four books.

See It. Say It. Do It! (2009) - How to see/recognize your goal, declare your intention, and taking action to achieve your vision.

See It. Say It. Do It! Organize It! (2011) - How to create a step by step process to make achieving your goal a reality.

50 Tips To Improve Your Sports Performance (2013) - How to improve your sports performance today by enhancing eye-mind-body coordination skills, achieving the mental edge, and preventing injuries.

Expand Your Vision (2021) - Discover the power of the seeing brain…the creator of your true vision. Gain Clarity, Courage, and Confidence. In this #1 Amazon best-selling innovative newest book, the power of visualizing and believing in the process to break through internal barriers and create new possibilities for achieving your goal is explored. Visualization can be used to increase creativity, to reduce stress and anxiety, and to build confidence in all of the things that they do.