Talent Centered Elements
From Baum, 2009.
Susan Baum's Talent Centered Model for Twice Exceptional Students provides the basic framework for our model. Because her model was developed with twice exceptional students specifically in mind, it fits our purposes perfectly. The elements that she has included in the model: talent development; appropriate learning environment; intellectually challenging curriculum; differentiated instruction and accommodations; targeted remediation; and social and emotional support are built upon and extended using pieces of the others to give slightly more structure and a more appropriate fit for twice exceptional autism students. In particular, the reason this structure was chosen for the model was because of the ease of implementation and highly flexible and individual nature. The elements of the model, as in our model, interact with one another in a way that is unique to each student, depending on his or her individual needs and abilities. For schools that may not have the resources available to develop and implement over-arching gifted resource programs and social-emotional support, the model is easily implemented in the regular classroom with the support of counselors and gifted resource teachers. In addition, because autism is a spectrum disorder, meaning
characteristics can manifest completely differently from individual to individual, and because
giftedness can manifest differently in individuals, TEAM takes into account these differences
and can be implemented flexibly to best fit the student, thus ensuring the highest possible
chance at success.
characteristics can manifest completely differently from individual to individual, and because
giftedness can manifest differently in individuals, TEAM takes into account these differences
and can be implemented flexibly to best fit the student, thus ensuring the highest possible
chance at success.