Madison Neuro-Affirming Resources for Twice-Exceptional (2e) and Gifted Kids

Supporting a twice-exceptional (2e) or gifted child can often feel overwhelming. As parents, we are constantly searching for resources that can challenge and nurture our child’s amazing strengths, while also offering the right support for areas where they struggle. Of equal importance is finding spaces where they feel truly seen and safe — where they can be themselves without fear of being misunderstood, judged, or othered.

For families of gifted and 2e children living in or near Madison, finding the right professionals and services can be daunting, especially while navigating Wisconsin’s Gifted and Talented education system, IEPs, and 504 plans. That’s why we’ve compiled this guide: to connect families with resources that not only cater to the intellectual and emotional needs of 2e and gifted children, but also embrace a neurodivergent-affirming perspective in their practices. In this post, we’ll introduce a variety of services available throughout the Greater Madison area and explain why each is important for families with neurodivergent kids.

Why Neuro-Affirming Resources for Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Kids Are So Important

When we talk about neuro-affirming resources, we’re referring to professionals and practices that recognize and celebrate neurodiversity. Neuro-affirming professionals do not view neurodivergent children through a deficit-based lens, where their challenges are seen as problems to be “fixed.” Instead, they take a strength-based approach, focusing on the child’s talents and abilities, while providing the necessary support for areas of challenge. The goal is not to change the child to fit into neurotypical molds, but rather to create an environment where the child’s unique wiring can thrive.

For twice-exceptional and gifted children, this approach is especially important. Because they have strengths in certain areas while also facing challenges in others, a traditional educational or therapeutic approach that focuses primarily on “fixing” their weaknesses can unintentionally overlook or undervalue their talents. A neuro-affirming approach ensures that both aspects of their identity — strengths and challenges — are recognized and supported, helping them grow in a way that nurtures their whole self.

DISCLAIMER — While we’ve made every effort to ensure the quality of these resources, the resources mentioned in this blog are for informational purposes only and are not endorsed or guaranteed by Young Scholars Academy. We encourage you to do your own due diligence in selecting the right fit for your family. Young Scholars Academy is not responsible for any outcomes or experiences resulting from the use of these resources. It’s important to choose professionals and organizations that align with your values, understand your child’s unique needs, and create an environment where your child can truly thrive.

Neuropsychologists and Testing for Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Kids

For families of gifted and twice-exceptional children, working with psychologists who specialize in the unique cognitive and emotional profiles of 2e kids is a crucial first step. These specialists conduct comprehensive psychoeducational and neuropsychological evaluations that go beyond standard assessments to uncover both strengths and challenges. In Wisconsin, a formal evaluation can be essential for securing gifted identification, an IEP, or a 504 plan, and for accessing the educational accommodations your child deserves. Here are some excellent assessment resources in the Madison area:

Neurodiverse Psychological Services is a Madison psychology practice led by Dr. Corey E. Ray-Subramanian, PhD, who holds dual licensure as a psychologist and school psychologist — a rare combination that bridges clinical diagnostics with deep expertise in special education systems. Located at 2820 Walton Commons Lane, Dr. Ray-Subramanian provides comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations for children, teens, and college students, covering autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning differences.

Different Minds is a Madison psychological evaluation practice led by Megan Farley, a school-psychology-trained evaluator with specialized expertise in diagnosing autism spectrum conditions across the lifespan — including in adults. She also conducts comprehensive evaluations for learning differences, ADHD, intellectual disabilities, and mental health co-occurrences, bringing a neurodiversity-affirming lens to each assessment. Different Minds is particularly well-suited for twice-exceptional children whose profile is complex or who have previously received evaluations that didn’t capture the full picture.

Common Threads Family Resource Center is a Madison nonprofit at 1717 N Stoughton Road offering neuropsychological evaluations as part of a comprehensive multidisciplinary clinic serving autistic and neurodivergent individuals. Their clinical psychologist provides neuropsychological testing alongside a team of psychotherapists, occupational therapists, and speech pathologists — making it possible to go from evaluation to coordinated therapeutic support under one roof, with the same shared philosophy of genuine respect for neurodiversity at every step.

Educational Therapists and Executive Functioning Coaches for Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Kids

Many families with gifted and twice-exceptional children find both educational therapists and executive functioning coaches to be invaluable resources. Educational therapists address specific learning challenges using specialized techniques that help a child understand their own learning. Executive functioning coaches focus on the skills — organization, time management, task initiation, emotional regulation — that are critical for success in school and life. For 2e kids, these professionals can be transformational. Here are some great options in and around Madison:

Capital City Psychology — EF Coaching & Parent Coaching is a Madison practice led by Dr. Liz Gaebler, PhD, a Licensed Psychologist, Nationally Certified School Psychologist, and ADHD Certified Clinical Services Provider (ADHD-CCSP). Dr. Gaebler specializes in working with tweens, teens, and parents navigating ADHD, executive function challenges, anxiety, and neurodivergence — offering both therapy and practical EF coaching from her office on Price Place in Madison, with telehealth available across Wisconsin.

Empowered Focus is a Madison-based psychologist-led workshop and coaching service offering parents practical, research-backed guidance on ADHD, executive functioning, behavior, and parenting strategies — without the clinical framing of therapy. Founded by Dr. Liz Gaebler alongside Capital City Psychology, Empowered Focus runs accessible live and virtual workshops tailored to parents who want clear, usable tools for supporting their differently-wired children at home and at school.

Parent Support Coaches, Advisors, and Groups for Families with Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Kids

Parenting a 2e child can sometimes feel isolating — and finding others who truly understand your family’s experience is priceless. Parent support groups and advisors help families navigate Wisconsin’s educational system, understand their child’s profile, and connect with community. Here are some excellent parent resources:

Wisconsin Association for Talented and Gifted (WATG) is Wisconsin’s statewide advocacy organization for gifted and talented children, serving parents, educators, and communities since 1992. WATG advocates for gifted programming at the state level, hosts an annual conference, awards student and educator grants, and serves as the primary voice for gifted education in Wisconsin. For Madison-area families navigating the Wisconsin Gifted and Talented identification process or IEPs, WATG is the essential starting point — and their website is one of the most comprehensive free repositories of gifted education resources in the state.

Autism Society of South Central Wisconsin is the regional chapter of the Autism Society of America serving the Greater Madison area, providing connection, resources, and advocacy for autistic individuals and neurodivergent families across south central Wisconsin. Their resource directory — covering diagnosis, therapy, parent support, schools, and community inclusion — is one of the most useful locally curated lists available to Madison-area families of 2e children, many of whom are navigating both autism and giftedness simultaneously.

Young Scholars Academy Parent Social Club offers a welcoming virtual space for parents of gifted and twice-exceptional children to connect, celebrate wins, and work through challenges together. Through engaging discussions and community-building activities, the club provides ongoing support and connection for parents navigating this unique journey — and it’s fully accessible to Madison families from the comfort of home.

Therapists and Psychologists for Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Kids

Many 2e children face anxiety, emotional intensity, perfectionism, or social difficulties that require dedicated therapeutic support alongside their academic journey. Psychologists and therapists who specialize in giftedness and neurodiversity bring a crucial neuro-affirming lens to these challenges. Here are some excellent options in the Madison area:

Lakeside Counseling Center offers neurodiversity-affirming therapy for autistic individuals, ADHDers, and their families in Madison and virtually across Wisconsin, with therapists who specialize in strengths-based support across the lifespan. Their child and teen therapy services are particularly attuned to the emotional regulation, identity, and social challenges that frequently accompany twice-exceptionality, with care available in-person and online.

Centered Psychiatry specializes in supporting gifted and twice-exceptional (2e) children, teens, and adults. The practice provides personalized psychiatric care for individuals navigating giftedness alongside challenges such as ADHD, autism, anxiety, and emotional intensity, helping clients thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Occupational and Speech-Language Therapists for Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Kids + Food, Nutrition, and ARFID Support

Occupational therapy (OT) and speech-language pathology (SLP) are vital resources for many 2e and gifted children, particularly those who experience challenges with sensory processing, fine motor skills, social communication, or daily living tasks. These therapies build essential life skills and can make a profound difference in a child’s ability to navigate school and the world. Here are some great options in the Madison area:

CI Pediatric Therapy Centers is a comprehensive pediatric therapy network with multiple clinic locations across the Madison area — including Fitchburg, Verona, Middleton, Waunakee, Cottage Grove, and Sun Prairie — offering OT, speech-language therapy, physical therapy, feeding therapy, and mental health services. Their occupational therapy team is explicitly neurodiversity-affirming, celebrating each child’s unique qualities while building toward meaningful, individually chosen goals. CI was voted a Wisconsin State Journal Top Workplace in both 2023 and 2024.

Aspire Therapy & Development Services is a Madison-area pediatric therapy practice with clinics in East Madison and Verona, offering speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, feeding therapy, and mental health services for children of all ages. Their OT team supports sensory processing, executive function, fine motor skills, and daily living tasks, while their SLP team addresses speech, language, communication, and feeding challenges — with virtual options available for families across Wisconsin.

Schools for Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Kids

For many 2e and gifted children, traditional classroom settings may not provide the right kind of support or challenge. Fortunately, there are school options in and around Madison designed with these learners in mind — environments where a child’s unique wiring is understood as a strength, not a problem to manage. Here are some great options:

Common Threads School Program is Madison’s only school program specifically designed for autistic and neurodivergent students who cannot be served in any other local educational setting. As a nonprofit alternative school, Common Threads provides a supportive, personalized educational experience through specialized teaching methods and collaborative therapies — with a daily environment of acceptance, growth, and genuine respect for neurodiversity. For families whose gifted, twice-exceptional child has exhausted other Madison-area options, Common Threads has changed lives.

MMSD Gifted and Talented Programs — Madison Metropolitan School District offers Gifted and Talented (GT) identification and services at all levels, with differentiated instruction, curriculum compacting, and enrichment opportunities for identified students across the district. MMSD also offers specialized focus programs and magnet schools — including dual-language immersion programs, arts-integrated schools, and STEM-focused options — that can provide strong alternative placements for bright, asynchronous learners whose needs aren’t met in the standard classroom.

Advocates, IEP Support, and Education Consultants

Navigating Wisconsin’s special education system — including gifted identification, IEP and 504 development, and advocacy under state and federal education law — can feel overwhelming. Families of gifted and 2e children often need knowledgeable support to ensure their child’s rights are upheld and that the system works for their child rather than against them. Here are some resources that can help:

WI FACETS is Wisconsin’s federally funded Parent Training and Information Center, providing free special education support, IEP and 504 guidance, trainings, and advocacy resources to families across the state. WI FACETS offers a free Help Desk (1-877-374-0511) staffed by specialists who can answer questions about special education rights, navigate IEP meetings, and connect Madison-area families with additional resources — all at no cost. Their online resource library and regular training calendar are among the most accessible and comprehensive available for Wisconsin families.

Disability Rights Wisconsin is Wisconsin’s federally designated protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities, offering rights information, coaching, and in limited circumstances legal advocacy to students with disabilities and their families — including those navigating IEP disputes, school placement conflicts, and accommodation denials. Their Madison office (608-267-0214) serves Dane County families directly and provides a critical backstop when collaborative advocacy hasn’t been enough.

College Applications and Support for Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Kids

Navigating the college application process with a 2e or gifted profile requires a different kind of support — one that understands how to showcase a student’s remarkable strengths while honestly addressing their learning differences, and how to find college environments where neurodivergent students don’t just survive but thrive.

McBurney Disability Resource Center — UW–Madison is the designated disability resource office at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, serving over 5,100 students annually with academic accommodations for ADHD, learning differences, autism, and psychological disabilities. For Madison families whose 2e teen is heading to UW–Madison, registering with McBurney is the essential first step — and the earlier the better. Students apply through McBurney Connect, meet with an access consultant, and receive a Verified Individualized Services and Accommodations (VISA) plan covering extended testing time, note-taking support, housing accommodations, and more. Over 90% of McBurney students have non-apparent disabilities, making it a deeply familiar and well-resourced office for neurodivergent learners.

Top College Consultants is a national virtual college consulting practice led by Dr. Eric Endlich, a clinical psychologist with deep expertise in helping twice-exceptional and neurodivergent students navigate college preparation, applications, and transition. Their team — including consultants with IECA Learning Differences specialty designations — helps students find colleges with the right level of disability support, craft authentic applications that reflect their 2e profile, and prepare for the very different landscape of college accommodations. They have presented for Young Scholars Academy and maintain a comprehensive free resource library and database of neurodiversity-friendly colleges.

Tutors for Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Kids

For many 2e families, a specialized tutor who understands neurodivergence is a game-changer — offering one-on-one personalized support that a classroom simply cannot provide. The right tutor can meet a child where they are, build on their strengths, and give them the tools to bridge the gaps. Here are some options:

Children’s Dyslexia Center of Madison is a Scottish Rite Masons-funded free tutoring program located at 301 Wisconsin Avenue in Madison, offering one-on-one Orton-Gillingham-based literacy intervention for children with dyslexia at no cost to families. Their program is IMSLEC-accredited and IDA-recognized — the gold standard for dyslexia instruction — and their tutors receive rigorous initial training plus ongoing supervised practicum hours. For Madison families with a child struggling with reading who cannot afford private tutoring, this is an extraordinary community resource.

Kids on the Yard provides personalized Gifted and Twice-Exceptional (2e) support services for students in Madison, Wisconsin. Through individualized instruction from certified special education tutors, the organization helps gifted learners and students with unique learning profiles reach their full potential. Their evidence-based approach combines tailored learning plans, academic enrichment, progress monitoring, and support for 504 plans and educational accommodations. With flexible online and in-person options, Kids on the Yard works closely with families to build student confidence, strengthen skills, and foster long-term academic success.

Social-Emotional and Intellectual Enrichment for Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Kids

Gifted and twice-exceptional children thrive in environments that celebrate their unique strengths and provide opportunities for intellectual and social growth. Social connection groups, enrichment programs, and communities of like-minded peers can be especially transformative for 2e kids who may have struggled to find where they belong. Here are some wonderful options:

Badger Precollege (formerly WCATY) is the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s academic enrichment program for students ages 5–18, rooted in a 30-year tradition of giving gifted learners a place to explore their passions, challenge themselves academically, and — crucially — find their people. Housed in UW Continuing Studies, Badger Precollege offers residential and online programs across disciplines including the GEM program (Grades 1–4), STEP (Grades 6–8), and ALP (high school), with scholarships available to increase access. These classes offer what one alumnus-turned-instructor described as “a place for curious kids to be unapologetically themselves.”

Mind Outlet (Virtual) — Michelle Ptacek serves highly and profoundly gifted students in the Davidson Young Scholars program through daily M–F online homerooms covering creative thinking, social-emotional learning, and executive functioning. Her approach draws on research into extreme cognitive profiles and bibliotherapy, giving HG/PG students both intellectual community and social-emotional scaffolding rarely available in traditional settings. For families whose schedules don’t align with the group homerooms, she also offers 1:1 instruction. For families who aren’t in the Davidson Young Scholars program, she provides general gifted homerooms. Based out of Decorah, IA.

Young Scholars Academy is a virtual village that offers strength-based enrichment courses and community for 5–18-year-old gifted, twice-exceptional, and bright, differently-wired kiddos — empowering them to develop their strengths, make like-minded friends, and thrive under the loving care of mentors. With over 150 unique subjects ranging from conceptual physics, AP courses, and executive function skills to Minecraft, Roblox, and Anime, YSA challenges students at their own level while connecting them with peers who share their passions. The magic? Madison families can access all of it from home, connecting your child with a global community of brilliant, quirky kids who finally feel like they’ve found their people.

Picture a place where your child fits in, is celebrated, mentored, and loves learning the content they crave. That is happening every day at YSA for hundreds of families — and it can happen for your family too. Explore YSA here.

Conclusion

Supporting twice-exceptional and gifted children in Madison requires a thoughtful, holistic approach that honours both their strengths and their challenges. By connecting with neuro-affirming resources — from neuropsychologists and educational therapists to parent support groups, advocates, and enrichment communities — families can create an environment where their child feels seen, understood, and empowered to reach their fullest potential.

Wisconsin’s Gifted and Talented system, along with IEP and 504 protections under state and federal law, offers important pathways for children with learning differences and those who are highly gifted. But knowing your rights and finding the right professionals to support your journey makes all the difference. The resources in this guide are here to help.

Remember: the path to success for 2e and gifted children involves recognizing both their strengths and their challenges. By seeking out resources that respect neurodiversity and embrace a strengths-based approach, you can provide your child with the support they need to flourish — exactly as they are.

We want to find the best resources for 2e and gifted kids in as many cities as we can. Did we miss anyone you think we should add to our Madison list? What city should we explore next? Let us know in the comments!

DISCLAIMER — While we’ve made every effort to ensure the quality of these resources, the resources mentioned in this blog are for informational purposes only and are not endorsed or guaranteed by Young Scholars Academy. We encourage you to do your own due diligence in selecting the right fit for your family. Young Scholars Academy is not responsible for any outcomes or experiences resulting from the use of these resources. It’s important to choose professionals and organizations that align with your values, understand your child’s unique needs, and create an environment where your child can truly thrive.