In this session, we will consider the importance of understanding giftedness through the lens of neurodivergence, rather than focusing exclusively on high potential. The speakers, both late-identified twice-exceptional (AuDHD) adults, will share their childhood experiences as being solely gifted-identified. They will then explore some of the insights they have gained from understanding themselves as neurodivergent and why accurate identification for neurodivergent youth is vital for long-term mental health and well-being.

Marni Kammersell is a neurodivergent educator who specializes in creating empowering, neuro-affirming home and learning environments. She is passionate about the neurodiversity paradigm, self-directed education, non-coercive relationships, and understanding experience through the lens of the nervous system. Currently pursuing her doctorate with a focus on neurodivergence and self-directed education, Marni has over 15 years of experience in alternative educational settings such as homeschooling, unschooling, community education, democratic schools, and forest schools. Her greatest teachers are her own three children, who have never been to school. You can find Marni’s publication Wandering Brightly on Substack.

Katy Higgins Lee, MA, MFT is a licensed therapist, unschooling parent, neurodiversity advocate, clinical supervisor, and continuing education provider. She focuses on working with adults and couples who are Autistic, ADHDers, Gifted, and Twice-Exceptional. She creates content on social media under the name Tending Paths and has a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology, with an emphasis in Somatics, from the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS).