THE 3RD ANNUAL
Bright & Quirky Child Summit
Help bright kids thrive, even with learning, social and/or emotional challenges
Summit 2020 Program
Welcome to the third annual Bright & Quirky Child Online Summit. We’re thrilled that you’ll be joining us. We’ve got 22 amazing experts ready with insights, tools and support to shift your perspective and empower your progress on the bright and quirky journey. All talks begin airing at 8am Pacific time and will be free and accessible for 24 hours. Find your local timezone here.
The summit is made possible by sales of the summit Access Pass. If you would like to support the mission and get 24/7 immediate, permanent access, along with downloadable audio, video and transcripts, get unlimited access. Enjoy the summit!
Day 1: HOW TO NAVIGATE THE BRIGHT & QUIRKY JOURNEY
Thursday, March 12, 2020. Begins at 11 am ET/8 am PT
Growing up experiencing failure after failure due to undiagnosed Dyslexia, Jack Horner persisted in following his joy - digging holes and learning whatever he could about dinosaurs. Fast forward to today: he is a leading world expert on dinosaurs, and the professor on which the Jurassic Park movie character was based. Listen to Jack Horner's journey and come away inspired and determined to hold out space and time for your child to grow through the challenges. Learn his maxims for life and the Dyslexic's special gift. You'll also be awed by seeing the firsts he brought to the world. This talk is great to watch with teens!
With a fascinating blend of personal experience grounded in the science of polyvagal theory, Dr. Stephen Porges explains how our kids want to do the right thing, but their bodies are often in states that do not support that. This results in behavior that gets labeled "bad" or "uncooperative." In this powerful talk you will learn how physiological and behavioral states are linked, why timeouts and isolation have the opposite effect on self-regulation, and how to be a calming presence in your child's life. Dr. Porges discusses his Safe and Sound Protocol that helps retune accoustical pathways in the brain to be able to process and appreciate cues of safety, providing the necessary platform for learning and social engagement. Dr. Porges drills down simply and beautifully to what matters most in supporting our children, and you especially won't want to miss this talk if your child has anxiety, gut issues, auditory sensitivities, a history of chronic ear infections, or food selectivity issues.
Learn more about Stephen Porges, PhD
Every 2e child has a different constellation of strengths and challenges, and Dr. Linda Silverman is a champion of neuropsychological assessments that highlight strengths and optimal development plans. Dr. Silverman takes us on a deep dive of learning modalities - including visual and auditory processing - that helps us understand functioning and what effective paths of remediation might be. Learn the differences between an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and a 504 Plan, how to make sure strengths are included in your child's plan, and what to do before signing off on your child's plan.
Learn more about Linda Kreger Silverman, PhD
This talk is a love letter to families who are feeling alone, hurt and excluded by systems and a society that focuses on their deficits. You are not alone! LeDerick describes how to work through the process of becoming a thriving human by embracing vulnerability in dark times, front-loading gifts over deficits, and building a supportive community. Learn how to talk to your child about their challenges in a way that leads them towards powerful self-determination and envisioning a positive future. Parents are encouraged to share LeDerick's inspiring personal story and with their children or invite them to watch along!
Learn more about LeDerick Horne
Day 2: HOW TO SOOTHE STRESS, ANXIETY, AND EMOTIONAL INTENSITY
Friday, March 13, 2020. Begins at 11 am ET/8 am PT
Ready to learn the most important factors to help children with meltdowns, acting out and self-regulation? Dr. Stuart Shanker teaches us the difference between misbehavior and stress behavior, how to recognize a child's unique and subtle signs of overstress, and most importantly, what powerful and restorative responses will help. Understand the types of cycles bright and quirky kids run on that affect their stress, and how we can become a nurturing source for our child with effective soothing strategies. Dr. Shanker's talk is highly recommended for both parents and educators.
Learn more about Stuart Shaker, DPhil
Ready for a mindshift about how to reframe and respond to a child's challenging behavior? Dr. Mona Delahooke believes that when we see a child's behavior not as "good" or "bad," but as useful information about a child's underlying physiological state, effective and compassionate interventions emerge. Dr. Mona explains how to decode the signals our child's behavior is sending, how to play detective, build an individualized toolkit, and communicate information to schools and IEP teams. Dr. Mona provides valuable ideas for problem solving, uncovering root causes of behavior, and helping kids get to calm. Dr. Mona also talks about resources to share with schools about harmful behavior interventions, as well as how parents can increase their capacity for healthy co-regulation. In this talk, Debbie and Dr. Mona discuss self-care in a new light that is brain-based and imperative, transcending our current attitudes.
Learn more about Mona Delahooke, PhD
There's a secret language hiding in plain sight that most of us were never taught; the language of emotions. Learn why Marc Brackett, Director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, believes we have a moral obligation to give our kids, and ourselves, permission to feel and name what's going on underneath the surface at an emotional level. Learn how to use the Mood Meter to open a whole new, healing dialogue in your family to lead to greater health, happiness, achievement and creativity. Marc's RULER program empowers kids' emotional intelligence and is used in over 2,300 schools all over the world.
Learn more about Marc A. Brackett, PhD
The need for resilience in the face of anxiety and fear is a life skill we all need. Kendra Read, clinical psychologist, director of anxiety programs at Seattle Children's Hospital, and the director of psychotherapy training at the University of Washington gives us so much food for thought about what best serves our children, and us, in our approach to anxiety and fear. There are so many different flavors of anxiety, such as generalized anxiety, social anxiety, picky eating, OCD, perfectionism, and more. Kendra Read helps us understand the differences, and shares the proven approaches that put anxiety and fear in their rightful place. Learn why she doesn't teach relaxation strategies and what approach is more effective.
Learn more about Kendra Read, PhD
Day 3: HOW TO DEVELOP FOCUS & EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING SKILLS
Saturday, March 14, 2020. Begins at 11 am ET/8 am PT
Michael Delman, founder and CEO of the largest executive function coaching organization in the world, approaches executive function difficulty with an easy kindness and flexibility that truly showcases his ability to level with and understand his students. In this talk, he shares invaluable perspective on prioritizing the different aspects of executive function, addressing excessive video game and screen usage, and coaching a reluctant Bright & Quirky learner through the stages of change. Michael's realism and empathetic approach empower his students to take their learning into their own hands and invest in tailoring their toolkit to suit their needs. This is a must-watch for any parent who's ever worried about how to create buy-in and connection with their 2e child!
Learn more about Michael Delman, MEd
Are the brains, guts, and nervous systems of neurodiverse children different than neurotypical children? What are the differences between food sensitivities and food allergies, and how do they affect my child's autism or ADHD? Dr. Sandy Newmark shares his whole-child nutritional and non-pharmaceutical approaches to wellness for children in this fascinating talk. Dr. Sandy shares the three nutrients every child should be tested for to see if they're deficient, as well as recommended supplements that can help ADHD symptoms. He also discusses the importance of good sleep and exercise, and shares his criteria for when pharmacological interventions may be beneficial.
Learn more about Sanford Newmark, MD
Sometimes you have to plan backwards to move forwards and get things done effectively. In this revelatory talk with Sarah Ward, you will learn that good executive function in our children is far more than the product and output of executive skills. Sarah shares an invaluable questioning system that engages a child's executive planning skills and relationship with time for all parts of their life, not just homework. Utilizing the power of our non-verbal working memory, the ability to "envision" yourself and plan over the course of time is a crucial and teachable skill. It may be the missing link in a child's executive functioning abilities!
Learn more about Sarah Ward, MS, CCC/SLP
According to Seth Perler, the worst thing you can do with a child with executive function difficulties is nothing. In this talk, Seth tells us how to make progress with our child in consistent baby steps, recognizing and reinforcing their successes no matter how minor. The secret, he says, is prioritizing connection and your relationship, regardless of their age.
Have you ever wondered what the overlap is between executive functions, self-regulation, and self-determination? Let George McCloskey guide you through a process of supporting your child that is centered on them, helps strengthen and clarify their motivations, and helps them see a bigger connection to purpose and the world. Learn what the secret ingredient is to help your child's brain wake up and start setting their own goals. After this talk you will have some new tools for shaping the behavior you want to see and how to walk them through the steps to eventually do it on their own.
Learn more about George McCloskey, PhD
Day 4: HOW TO NAVIGATE YOUR CHILD'S EDUCATION
Sunday, March 15, 2020. Begins at 11 am ET/8 am PT
Does your child have resistance or lack of engagement at school that has you and teachers stumped? Let's get better at calling on the real expert of your child's struggles - your child! Too often when a child is struggling, well-meaning adults try to help a child with theories and non-specific information when student struggles tend to be highly individualized. Learn from the master of collaborative problem solving, Dr. Ross Greene, how to efficiently gather information from your child about what's getting in their way of meeting expectations, including fantastic tips for handling the "I don't know" responses and non-talkers.
Homeschooling can be a daunting task, especially after traditional school has failed to spark a 2e child's learning. How do we help our kids reengage with their inborn curiosity and desire to explore? With her vast, deep, and varied expertise and experience, Susan Baum explores these questions relative to our bright and quirky children. Listen as Dr. Susan takes an ABC approach to see if your child is in the right learning environment and how to spark their imagination through real world experiences. This talk is a must if you're considering enrichment, homeschooling or unschooling.
Learn more about Susan Baum, PhD
Finding and accessing an appropriate education for ‘twice exceptional (2e)’ learners can be challenging. In this interview, the two Debbies talk about the challenges for bright and quirky kids in schools today, the importance of talking openly about our kids’ neurodivergence with potential schools, and how Debbie Reber and her son transitioned from a negative school fit to a positive homeschooling experience, and more. Are you looking for schools that meet the needs of neuro-divergent, 2E kids? Debbie R. shares an important resource.
Learn more about Deborah Reber, MA
Getting an autism diagnosis for a child can be an emotional and confusing process with lots of questions. How do I best support my child's individual differences? What should I tell them about their diagnosis? What are the most helpful interventions? Join Debbie and Monica Osgood for an enlightening conversation about key factors for developmental progress, including the importance of positive relationships and a "presume competence" mindset. Learn the difference between ABA and DIR (Developmental Individual Relationship-based) Model, and the role emotions, passions, and relationships play in DIR. Monica and Debbie also discuss the best way to assess for autism and where to seek diagnosis.
Learn more about Monica Osgood
Are you worried that your child doesn't seem interested in anything aside from electronics? Do you have a hard time pinpointing their strengths amidst a system that seems focused solely on their areas of difficulty? In this talk, Girish Venkat sits down with Debbie to share his refreshing take and resources to identify and support your child's strengths and interests.
Learn more about Girish Venkat
Day 5: HOW TO PARENT A TWICE EXCEPTIONAL CHILD
Monday, March 16, 2020. Begins at 11 am ET/8 am PT
In the toughest moments with your child or teen, do you ever wish you had the perfect thing to say or way to respond? Learn from Dr. Tina Payne Bryson about the 4 S's and how to be the parent your child needs, informed by the science of attachment, regulation, and relationship. You will hear about simple but powerful ways to help your child co-regulate instead of co-escalate and how to become a safe harbor for your child. Dr. Tina describes ways to respond that match a child's experience which can regulate their nervous system and get them (and you) back to calm. Dr. Tina reminds us that it's never too late to help our child move from the threat circuitry of their brain to totally different neural networks by creating positive emotional experiences you can start doing today!
Learn more about Tina Payne Bryson, PhD
Dr. Dan Peters of the Summit Center knows gifted and 2e kids - their vibrancy, their gifts, and their challenges. Parents know that helping a child learn to regulate within these challenges is a critical life skill. But the anxiety, anger, and angst experienced by our Bright & Quirky kids causes us to experience an equal (or greater amount) of stress and anxiety. Dr. Dan is the voice of calm with his key messages. Don’t lose yourself while parenting this dynamic and demanding child. Being present for your child is critical for your child’s positive development, but you can’t be present for your child if you are not first present for yourself. Be kind to yourself. By living that and modeling that, you are giving your child an important lesson and a true gift.
Learn more about Dr. Dan Peters
Claire Wilson gets it. She gets the anxiety and stress that our children can feel and that WE can feel. And she gets it at a deep level. She takes the work of Stephen Porges and brings the concept of neuroception into everyday language that works for parents and kids. She teaches parents and kids to focus on their body and how it feels. She brings people on a journey of self-awareness and self-empowerment by helping parents, teachers, and kids ask the question, “What would help you feel safer right now?” And this is a question for parents and teachers to ask of themselves, as much as for the children in their care. Her concepts of staying grounded and helping children stay grounded (and learn to keep themselves grounded) will leave you with strategies to use right away.
Learn more about Claire Wilson, MA
Listen as Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman shares his formula for what he sees as the ideal ratio to meet children's strength development vs. remediation needs, and how to encourage our children to take risks and find their pathway to become fully who they are. There are a number of routes to becoming fully human. That is Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman's take on the path to self-actualization in his new book Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization. Dr. Scott discusses his new integrated model of whole self development including self-acceptance, self-esteem, health, and growth - all applying deeply to our twice exceptional tribe with which he proudly identifies. He tells his personal story of self-emancipation from special-ed to honors classes in 9th grade, and shares how important it is to help kids decouple how they do in school with their basic sense of self worth.
Learn more about Scott Barry Kaufman, PhD