Academic Advocacy

Every year our phones quiet as children go back to school and parents hope this year will be a good one. However, as the leaves turn and the learning opportunities in each child's classroom become more apparent, parents are filled with concerns:

• My son is underchallenged and his teacher is unaware of what he can do
• How can I advocate for him? I don't want him to misbehave or stop wanting to go to school.
• My daughter complains about repetition of work that is too easy, and they won't even test for giftedness until January.
• My child is so bright, but is not performing well in school. Could there be a learning disability?
• My son's teacher thinks he has AD/HD, but he can focus when he wants to. Could it just be giftedness?
• My gifted child used to receive services for a reading disability, but with the new Response to Intervention approach the school is using, teachers say he is fine and no longer needs services.
• My child is underachieving, so the teacher won't consider advanced learning groups.
• My child would be a good candidate for a grade skip, but the teacher believes it would hamper social development.

Gifted Development Center consultants have dealt with these problems for decades, both professionally and personally, and are available to consult with you by phone or in person, even if no testing is done. In order to be most useful to you, we ask that you complete all GDC forms first. We read everything before speaking with you, so that when we begin, the conversation can quickly move to your greatest concerns. We answer your questions about giftedness, appropriate educational options, learning disabilities and other deficits, personality characteristics, parenting, homeschooling, support groups - you name it. We are all diagnosticians and will note any red flags we detect in the information you provide that you can clarify with local specialists before involving your school. For example, if your child hasn't taken off reading, is reluctant to learn, inadvertently skips to the next line when reading, and struggles with handwriting, we may suggest seeing a developmental optometrist to determine if vision therapy would help. We can answer your questions about most tests schools use to identify gifted students, about comprehensive individual tests, and about the strengths and limitations of tests for gifted children. We can interpret testing previously done. We understand levels of giftedness and can address the needs of the moderately, highly, exceptionally, or profoundly gifted child. We suggest books you can read to further answer your questions.

Costs are based on the time on the phone, plus the time to read what you send us. We strive to educate you, and strengthen you as an advocate. Our greatest compliment is when we hear, "You've been a wealth of information."

We have all learned that well-meaning people can give bad advice about the gifted. If your teacher insists, "Your child will be fine" and you don't think so, put an expert in your corner!

Consultants are standing by, including Bobbie Gilman, Betty Maxwell, and Linda Silverman in Denver, Linda Powers Leviton in Los Angeles and Seattle, and Kathi Kearney in New England.

NAGC "Hot Topics" Handout

References for:
Testing Your Gifted Child: A Springboard for Effective Advocacy by Barbara
Jackson Gilman.

View the article from the
Duke Gifted Letter, Spring 2006 issue (Vol. 6, No.3) here.

School Advocacy Consultation

By Barbara Gilman, M.S.

Is your child frustrated with the slow pace of school?

Is the pullout gifted program inadequate?

Are classroom accommodations not offered?

Does your school refuse to accelerate for social reasons?

Is there NO gifted program (“all children are gifted”)?

Has your advanced child been refused identification due to IQ screeners, creativity tests, or a messy desk?

Is your Twice-Exceptional child receiving accommodations for weaknesses only—or just seen as average?

Has testing been done that affects your child’s options and you have unexpected or inconsistent scores?

GDC consultants deal with a wide range of topics, but school advocacy and testing issues are my particular concerns. If you have been struggling with your child’s school or simply need guidance in what to ask for, consultation may ease your pain! As part of the consultation process, you will complete all typical GDC paperwork, plus a School Advocacy Questionnaire, so that I can review your situation before we speak. You may wish to consult my book, Academic Advocacy for Gifted Children: A Parent’s Complete Guide, in preparation for our conversation—or if you have a meeting scheduled with school personnel and need advocacy advice. Our office will be happy to ship it to you (please let us know how quickly you need it).

While we are unable to write reports or provide written recommendations to schools unless we test your child, consultations offer you the unique opportunity to discuss your child, in depth, with a specialist. You may receive an insider’s view of test score interpretation, advice about appropriate curriculum options, or specialists to see to address or rule out problems. In all cases, we will discuss strategies to support your child best. Have pen and paper ready. Advocacy is needed for gifted students from elementary to college age, and varies with level of giftedness. Fortunately, help is also available for advocates!

We are pleased to be able to offer this service to you at a rate of $150/hr.

Call 303/837-8378; 1-888-GIFTED1 to arrange
a consultation with Bobbie.

Consultation charges are prorated based on 15-minute increments.
MasterCard and VISA accepted.

What people are saying about Bobbie's presentations:

I just wanted to thank you again so much for your willingness to come speak with our students. I know that our students truly enjoyed hearing from you!

The work you do is so inspiring and much needed! It's people such as yourself
that are making this world an okay place to be, amidst the seemingly increasing
negativity, especially in the educational field and working with our youth.

For information on having Bobbie present to your
organization, please contact us!