Gifted Children Are At-Risk

Dear Friends,

Did you know gifted children are one of the most under-recognized, at-risk populations in the U.S. today?

Most people do not equate “gifted children” with being “at-risk,” but in fact they are. Evidence suggests* that the bodies of gifted individuals respond differently, and these differences may impact their physical health, mental well-being, behavior, the way they process the world around them, even their sensory system! Shockingly, the very professionals that work with these children are not required to have any training in these differences or their potential impact. Gifted Research and Outreach (GRO) is a 501.c.3 non-profit corporation fiercely dedicated to promoting a comprehensive and accurate understanding of giftedness so that gifted individuals can receive the understanding and care every American deserves.

GRO is committed to researching the physiology of gifted individuals, and to educating medical, mental health and teaching professionals about the physical and psychological impacts of giftedness. As part of this effort GRO actively participates in outreach efforts to correct myths, inspire social change and teach effective advocacy at local, state and national levels.

2018 was a busy year, and we are excited to share with you our biggest accomplishments, which include:

Being approved to provide continuing education units to mental health professionals.
Holding a full-day workshop on gifted physiology and advocacy, sponsored by the Northwest Gifted Child association and Gifted Homeschoolers Forum.
Publishing a seminal article on the use of medication when treating gifted individuals, written by a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, and GRO Advisor, Dr. Jerald Grobman,.MD.
Co-authoring a series of six articles on gifted physiology in partnership with Gifted Homeschoolers Forum. These articles were viewed by over 120,000 people!
Giving in-person presentations about giftedness to over 2,000 parents and professionals nation-wide.
Making available on our website four pre-recorded webinars about how to talk about giftedness to teachers, medical and mental health professionals and extended family
Finally, one of GRO’s biggest milestones to date was accomplished this year, as we defined the scope of our first original research project.

Though GRO will continue its outreach activities in 2019, its main focus will be the successful launch of its first biological research project. We are currently in the midst of preparing the necessary groundwork and hope to be sharing the detail of it with you in the first half of 2019.

So what can you do? Donate Generously!

Please join us in contributing to GRO’s pursuit of a unique, permanent and wide-sweeping solution to supporting the gifted population. Stretch as far as you can; all gifts matter and all enable us to help gifted children. Our goal is to raise $100,000 this holiday season. Of course, it’s tax-deductible!

A reminder why we do this

My son was always perceived as “smart” but somehow that didn’t mean school worked well for him. We tried different schools, therapy, medication, all of which were needed, but he was miserable, bullied, misunderstood, not making friends, and frankly not learning anything in spite of everyone’s best efforts. It wasn’t until he hit rock bottom, and was expelled from school, that conditions improved for him, AND fast! In one year, he transformed from a rebellious 6^th grader who routinely skipped homework to receiving an A in high school biology and a perfect score on the SAT biology test.

This was the first of many successes in his educational experience which is now infused with learning. What we learned is that his body didn’t work in a regular classroom any more than his brain did, but once he was freed up to let his body and brain work the way they were designed to work, everything began to synch up. Gifted kids think differently, and they need opportunities to learn and mature differently. I am grateful every day that he got himself kicked out of school and began the path to the amazing person he is today. – Dr. Joanna Haase, Parent

Thank you and happy holidays,

Marc, Sharon, Joanna and Jessica,

GRO Board of Directors