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Director, Dr. Linda Silverman, awarded "Special Advocate 2007" distinction |
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Advanced Development Journal proudly announces the release of Volume 11: Social Issues of the Gifted. For more information, please click here! |
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Welcome!
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What is giftedness all about? To me, it isn't a straight-A average or getting into an Ivy League college. It isn't the potential for a place in history or a six-figure salary. Certainly, people who rise to stardom in childhood or adult life are often gifted, but most gifted people do not seek or achieve fame. Many gifted children are hiding--trying to remain unnoticed by pretending to be just like everybody else. Some have withdrawn or are acting out because their differences have been rejected. Some have so much empathy that they are in pain every day over the cruelty on the playground, the violence on TV, or the condition of the world. Many gifted adults are in the helping professions because they feel the need to ease the suffering of others. Others are in business for themselves because they can't cope with the lack of moral integrity they have witnessed in bureaucracies. Still others are devoting themselves to being the best parents they know how to be, and parenting is a profession that doesn't lead to fame. But there are certain qualities of the gifted experience that transcend age, nationality, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status, occupation, interests or talent domain:
Gifted people not only think differently, they feel differently. Giftedness is a different way of being, and these differences affect one throughout the lifespan. If you have selected our Website, chances are that you, yourself, are a gifted person. Before you click off this screen, muttering "Nonsense!" please bear with me and read the rest of this page. There is so much confusion about the meaning of this term, and so much denial, that the most gifted people reject the notion of being gifted. No matter what your reason for joining us today at the Gifted Development Center website, here's the most important tip I can give you: If you are a gifted person, the greatest gift Appreciation begins with recognition. What are the characteristics of giftedness?
If these characteristics fit you, your first job is to understand yourself, then you will be a good role model for others in your life who need your help. Consciousness of the meaning of giftedness is oxygen to the Soul: You need to put on your own oxygen mask before you help others put on theirs. If you are simply curious about this topic because you are writing a term paper or a newspaper article, doing a TV segment, or you just happened upon the site "accidentally," you need to ask yourself what attracted you to this information. "Is there something about myself that I need to learn from this website?" You will do a better job with your assignment when you identify with it. If you remain in denial, your product will be distorted with your own misperceptions and will do more harm than good. So here we are talking about you, when that wasn't what you had bargained for. Not comfortable, is it! Being an exception in a world that prizes sameness is never comfortable at first. But as you begin to explore those differences, you will see that your gifts are needed in the world. And as you understand these positive differences in yourself, you will be a better advocate for others. Each person's awareness helps the world become just that much more conscious. Little by little, giftedness will come out of the closet all over the globe, and we will be able to put to rest forever the shame that has for too long accompanied the experience of being gifted.
Would you like to know more about what it's like to have your child tested at the Gifted Development Center (GDC)? Why families travel so far? Why we have you complete so many forms? How testing with the GDC differs from testing your child elsewhere? Please read "The GDC Experience"!
Are you looking for information about the new IQ tests? See "How to Use the New IQ Tests in Selecting Gifted Students" and the other new articles available on Assessment.
Are you looking for information about your own giftedness? Check out Advanced Development, the only journal on adult giftedness.
* DISCLAIMER: At the Gifted Development Center, we are skilled at working with the entire range of giftedness, including profoundly gifted, and with children from 3 1/2 through adolescence. We also work with gifted adults. We have expertise in diagnosing learning disabilities. However, we do NOT have expertise with severe attentional deficits, autism, Asperger's Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Delay, or severe emotional problems, such as manic depression, schizophrenia, etc. Specialists in these areas should be sought, if applicable.
Just discovering your child's giftedness? |
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Linda's vision and advocacy Linda earned her Ph.D. in
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Advanced Development Journal proudly announces the release of For more information, please click here! |
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Calling All Gifted Advanced Development, Browse through the |
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Home - About Our Center - Adult Giftedness & Journal - What's New? - What is Gifted? Copyright 1997 - 2008, Linda Kreger Silverman, Ph.D. |
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