UMA REFLEXÃO SOBRE A CARACTERIZAÇÃO DO SUPERDOTADO E A CONDIÇÃO DA DUPLA EXCEPCIONALIDADE

Abstract

There are individuals who combine skills and competencies and who, however, have deficits in communication and social interaction. This article discusses the underrepresentation of gifted individuals and individuals on the autistic spectrum, identified as twice exceptional. Cross-sectional quantitative research was carried out, using a structured closed questionnaire, designed with the aim of characterizing workshop participants in two different events, with guardians of children and adolescents, held remotely, aimed exclusively at gifted individuals (n = 20). The individual was characterized as mostly male, born between 2007 and 2010, being identified by psychometric test, predominantly enrolled in Elementary School I at a private school, and residing in the city of Niterói. The majority do not participate in enrichment extracurricular activities or have any double exceptionality condition. The small number of individuals in the twice exceptionality condition involving giftedness and autism spectrum disorder (n = 2) suggests negligence, which, in turn, may be related to: (a) lack of knowledge, especially regarding the professionals involved in the identification and service; (b) prejudice related to autism. When it comes to the twice exceptionality involving giftedness and autism, the underrepresentation of autistic individuals, when also gifted, is quite important because: (a) the condition of giftedness can mask or minimize the possible losses resulting from the disorder; (b) people attribute different values to one condition and another.