Gift-a-Palooza 2024
Our 3rd Annual Virtual Summit on Giftedness & Neurodiversity! LIVE Feb 1-4, 2024
This celebration is dedicated to helping individuals and families in our gifted and multi-exceptional community move from a place of surviving to thriving, by coming together to share and explore our experiences, challenges and joys!
This year, we're bringing together 45+ top experts in giftedness for an array of engaging discussions, live Q&As and special events for educators, families, adults, health professionals and other community members!
Register to access 35+ recordings today!
$139.00
REGISTER NOWJoin us for our 3rd annual Gift-a-Palooza!
The Gift-a-Palooza is a unique conference focusing on Giftedness, 2e and Neurodiversity. It offers many sessions with over 45 speakers for both parents, gifted adults (of all ages) and professionals (educators, advocates and mental health experts) in a digital format.
This four day event will feature two live tracks of 75 minute sessions with live discussions and Q&A, alongside pre-recorded sessions, live panel discussions, a gifted young adult section, Profiles in Giftedness, live community and break out groups, and much, much more.
Gift-a-Palooza brings the BEST in the field of gifted and talented together so you have the opportunity to learn from some of the latest research on relevant and important topics in gifted education, social and emotional needs, and mental and physical health. Together, we strive to inform your practice and development, whether an educator, therapist, parent or gifted individual. We hope you join this special event and celebration of our incredible community!
WHO IS THIS SUMMIT FOR?
The Gift-a-Palooza is welcome to everyone who wishes to join! It is designed for the Gifted/Multi-Exceptional community as well as those who are looking to learn more about Giftedness and Neurodiversity, including:
Educators
Parents in Gifted/2e Families
Gifted/2e Adults
Health Professionals
BRINGING A GROUP?
SAVE $25 per ticket when you register for 3 or more participants and $50 per ticket when you register 5 or more participants!
Contact us to sign up for group discounts & learn more:
"We had 6 of our Gifted educators within our school district attend the 2023 Gift-a-Palooza Summit and every single one of them said nothing but positive things about the entire conference. Great learning, great community - thank you for putting this conference together and our staff looks forward to attending again next year!"
- School District Gifted Administrator
ALL PARTICIPANTS GET ALL ACCESS:
✔️ 4 DAYS OF LIVE PRESENTATIONS
Experience the 4-day event with LIVE presentations by top experts in the fields of Giftedness and Multi-Exceptionality.
✔️ LIVE Q&As
Participate in LIVE Q&A sessions with the experts following each session.
✔️ UNLIMITED ACCESS TO ALL RECORDINGS
Unlimited access to OVER 35+ speaker recordings, on any device, any time!
✔️ AN ACCESSIBLE PORTAL
Watch, listen and/or read the transcripts in an accessible, easy-to-use, secure, and personal portal, which is accessible anytime, anywhere, on any device!
✔️ COMMUNITY & CONNECTION
Learning, connection and support with others in the incredible Gifted and 2e community! (Don't forget to join our Social Hour!)
Meet the Hosts!
Hello, and welcome!
We are so thrilled to be here on this journey of learning, supporting, understanding and THRIVING as a gifted, multi-exceptional / neurodiverse community. We get it! With our family of 7 we have experienced it all and know just how hard it is to survive in a world that does not understand giftedness in all its forms.
We are so excited for our 3rd annual Gift-a-Palooza event, where we will be learning together, sharing and just feeling a sense of community together. Let's make this the best experience possible. We hope you will join us!
"Thank you so much for putting this amazing event together. I learned so much from every speaker and I love that it's virtual and I can access the sessions again and again throughout the year. I loved it and look forward to next year's summit!"
- 2023 Palooza Attendee
"I loved this entire Summit! All the speakers were so good and really grounded in their expertise in giftedness and neurodiversity. I especially loved the Young Adults Panel Discussion - very insightful! Thank you!"
- 2023 Palooza Attendee
Speakers & Topics
"Navigating an Uncertain Future: Cultivating & Nurturing Hope in the Gifted Community"
Can't attend the live events? All who register will have full access to presentation recordings!
View/Download the Summit Schedule!Keynote Speakers
Nurturing Gifted Students in Accelerated and Early Entrance Programs: A Model for Parenting, Teaching, and Counseling Partnerships
Jeamel Alday & Kristina Henry Collins, Ph.D.
The Four Pillars of Gifted Education: Supporting Robust Curricular and Instructional Practices
Richard M. Cash, Ed.D.
Psychological Well-being of Students with Gifts and Talents
Tracy L. Cross Ph.D.
Using Positive Psychology to Instill Hope in High-Ability Students
F. Richard Olenchak, PhD, PC
Using Strength-Based Pedagogy to Engage and Challenge 2E Students’ Development
Sally M. Reis, Ph.D
Panel Discussions
Gifted/2e Experts Panel: "Frequently Asked Topics & Questions in Giftedness & Neurodiversity"
Emily Kircher-Morris, LPC, Dan Peters, Ph.D & Mike Postma, Ed.D
Gifted/2e Moms Panel: "Finding Hope, Healing and Joy in the Journey: Raising Gifted and Neurodiverse Children"
Caroline Lubbe, Julie Postma & Debbie Reber, MA
Gifted/2e Young Adults Panel: "Failure as Growth"
Mia Abernethy, Ryan Kricker, Margo Margan, Jordan O'Kelley & Jacob Person
Nurturing Strengths and Passions Within the Homeschool Model
Lisa Jobe, Esq., Kasi Peters & Cassandra Whetstone
Guest Speaker Presentations
Using the Spiral Model to Understand the Twice Exceptional Developmental Trajectory
Karen Arnstein, EdD & Barry Gelston, EdD ABD
The Outliers. Gifted and 2E Students in the Classroom
Michelle Barmazel & Karen Blumstein
Interpretation of the WISC V: What Every Teacher and Parent of a Gifted Child Should Know
Paul Beljan, PsyD, MP, ABPdN, ABN
Parenting-Mindset and Opportunities
Sara Bradford
Staying Evergreen in the Winter Moments of Life: Building Photosynthesis Resilience in our Gifted Community
Linda E. Collins, Ed.D.
SELFIRST: How to Successfully Engage With Your Kids by Shifting the Dial: Reactive Self to a More Responsive Self via a Resilient Self
Larry M. Davis, MA
It's Probably Not (Just) ADHD; Teasing Apart APD, VPD, ADHD, and Dyslexia
Austina De Bonte, Megan Locke, Au.D., CCC/A & Hilary K. Wisdom, Au.D., F-AAA
College Planning for the Busy Parent
Amy Estersohn, M.A.
Thrice-Exceptional LGBTQ+ Youth: Their Characteristics, Challenges, and Successes
Terry Friedrichs, Ph.D., Ed.D.
Mentoring Experiences: Transformational Relationships for Multi-Exceptional Students with Anxiety
Amy Haynes Clark, Ed.D.
Navigating the Unparalleled Journey Parenting Exceptionally and Profoundly Gifted Children with Grace and Grit
P. Susan Jackson
How Your Emotions Could Be Your Best Friend (and why you don’t want to miss out on that relationship as a Gifted person)
Gloria Jensen
The Gift of Homeschooling: How Individualized Learning Pathways Can Nurture Your Learner’s Interests and Creativity
Lisa Jobe, Esq.
Mountain Out of a Molehill? An Introduction to Misophonia for Gifted Families
Heidi Lack, PhD, ATR-BC
Effective Partnership Building with Culturally Diverse Families/Organizations to Improve Outcomes for Culturally Diverse Gifted/Neurodiverse Students
Joy Lawson Davis, Ed.D.
Positive Advocacy and Self-Advocacy for Gifted Families
Carol Malueg, M.A. GCT, 2e
The Power of Playtesting: How Failure Designed My Boardgame
Margo Margan
Chronically Gifted, Chronically Ill in Trans and Cis Communities
Rebecca Niederlander
Support 2e Learners with Executive Function Challenges
Seth Perler, MEd
Gifted? ADHD/ADD? Or Both? Understanding the Complexities of ADHD and Giftedness
Michael Postma, Ed.D.
The Twice-Exceptional (2e) Brain
Michael Postma, Ed.D. & Matthew Zakreski, Psy.D.
Gifted & Distractible Helping 2e Learners Believe in Themselves
Julie Skolnick M.A., J.D.
Fine is Not Fine
Kasey Suitor, MEd
Cultivating Agency in Intelligent Older Teens and Young Adults
Elaine Taylor-Klaus, MCC
Calming the Calamities: A Gifted Perspective of Managing Anxiety, Anger and Angst
Christine Turo-Shields, LCSW, LCAC
Navigating the Tides of Change: Positive Disintegration in Gifted Adults
Chris Wells, PhD, LSW & Emma Nicholson
Neurodivergent & Strong: Developing Our Superpowers
Sam Young, M.Ed.
And the Children Shall Lead Us: A Guide to Interest-Based Learning
Matthew Zakreski, PsyD
Summit Schedule:
Note that the schedule is subject to change.
What do the terms Neurodivergent & Neurodiversity mean?
Traditionally, Neurodivergent is a term that refers to those persons whose 'neurological differences are to be recognized and respected as any other human variation.' Generally speaking, this always meant those with noticeable learning differences, such as autism, dyslexia, ADHD and others.
However, given new revelations in brain research (especially research pertaining to Gifted and/or Multi-Exceptional brains), we are seeing that Neurodiversity applies to a much broader group of people, which includes giftedness, trauma, anxiety, and even auditory or visual processing issues.
So what is Neurodiversity? It's complex. These brains are metaphysically different from their typical peers, and are thus Neurodivergent – which is what we're looking forward to addressing in-depth together in this summit!
Meet Our Sponsors:
Amy Estersohn
Amy Estersohn's professional experience in undergraduate admissions and classroom teaching inform her work families who are looking for education advice. With an approach that's equal parts intuition and information, she is able to provide families with focused recommendations about K-12 schools, colleges, and other postgraduate opportunities.
Learn more at leadwithtalents.com.
Exceptionally Engaged LLC
We build relationships of trust and safety with multi-exceptional students, neurodivergent individuals, and the families that love them. By combining lived experience, twice-exceptional education strategies, and parenting approaches that align with an individual’s needs, we design learning experiences and support home environments that allow the family to flourish.
Learn more at
exceptionallyengaged.com.
nRich Educational Consulting, Inc.
Dr. Cash has been in the field of education for more than 3 decades as a teacher, district administrator, university professor, author and consultant. He is keenly aware of the demands placed on teachers to improve student achievement, while also trying to create rich learning environments.
Learn more at nrichconsulting.com.
Summit Center
Summit Center provides assessments, counseling and consultation for gifted and twice-exceptional children, adults, and families, using a strength-based approach. Offices in California. Learn more at summitcenter.us.
Learn more at
summitcenter.us.