Diane M. Kennedy & Rebecca S. Banks 
Bright Not Broken 
Gifted Kids, ADHD, and Autism

The future of our society depends on our gifted children–the
population in which we’ll find our next Isaac Newton, Albert
Einstein, or Virginia Woolf. Yet the gifts and talents of
some of our most brilliant kids may never be recognized because
these children fall into a group known as twice exceptional, or
‘2e.’ Twice exceptional kids are both gifted and
diagnosed with a disability–often ADHD or an Autism Spectrum
Disorder–leading teachers and parents to overlook the
child’s talents and focus solely on his weaknesses. Too
often, these children get lost in an endless cycle of chasing
diagnostic labels and are never given the tools to fully realize
their own potential.

Bright Not Broken sheds new light on this vibrant population by
identifying who twice exceptional children are and taking an
unflinching look at why they’re stuck. The first work
to boldly examine the widespread misdiagnosis and controversies
that arise from our current diagnostic system, it serves as a
wake-up call for parents and professionals to question why our
mental health and education systems are failing our brightest
children.

Most importantly, the authors show what we can do to help 2e
children, providing a whole child model for parents and educators
to strengthen and develop a child’s innate gifts while also
intervening to support the deficits. Drawing on painstaking
research and personal experience, Bright Not Broken offers
groundbreaking insight and practical strategies to those seeking to
help 2e kids achieve their full potential.

Diane M. Kennedy, author of The ADHD-Autism Connection, is a long
time advocate, international speaker/trainer, and mother of three
twice-exceptional sons.

Rebecca S. Banks, M.A., co-author of The ADHD-Autism Connection, is
a veteran educator, national speaker/trainer, and mother of two
twice-exceptional children.

Temple Grandin, Ph.D., is a professor, prolific author, and one of
the most accomplished and renowned adults with autism in the world.

Table of Content

About the Authors ix

Authors’ Note xi

Preface xiii
Temple Grandin

Introduction xv
Diane M. Kennedy and Rebecca S. Banks

Part I: Who They Are

1. Twice Exceptional: A Nontraditional View of Giftedness 3

2. Recognizing 2e: A Confusing Mix of Abilities and Challenges 17

3. 2e, ADHD, and Labels: Misunderstanding Behaviors and Missing Deficits 37

4. Autism and 2e: A Better Understanding of Deficits and Behaviors 57

Part II: Why They’re Stuck

5. A Layman’s Guide to the DSM: The Flawed System That Traps Our Children 81

6. Fact or Fallacy: Questioning the Validity of the ADHD Diagnosis 101

7. Misunderstanding the Spectrum of Autism: An Important ”e” in 2e 119

8. 2e Students and Education: Too Bright, Too Broken 139

Part III: How to Help Them

9. Diagnosing the Whole Child: Identifying Abilities and Minimizing Deficits 165

10. Educating the Whole Child: Nurturing Abilities and Supporting Challenges 183

Conclusion: Ensuring the Best Future for Our Brightest Minds 209

Additional Resources 219

Notes 225

Acknowledgments 261

Index 267

About the author

DIANE M. KENNEDY, author of The ADHD-Autism Connection, is a longtime advocate, international speaker/trainer, and mother of three twice-exceptional sons.

REBECCA S. BANKS, MA, coauthor of The ADHD-Autism Connection, is a veteran educator, national speaker/trainer, and mother of two twice-exceptional children.

TEMPLE GRANDIN, Ph D, is a professor, prolific author, and one of the most accomplished and renowned adults with autism in the world.