We are a national non-profit providing awareness, advocacy, and professional training on Multi-Exceptionality: Giftedness, ADHD, and Autism.
Our StoryOur journey began as a search for answers to help our own multi-exceptional children, leading us to write two internationally acclaimed books: The ADHD-Autism Connection (2002) and Bright Not Broken: Gifted Kids, ADHD, and Autism (2011). As author/advocates, we encounter countless parents and professionals who appreciate the richer understanding our books provide, but our conversations always return to the dilemma of what to do with this knowledge.
In the face of too many misdiagnoses, missed diagnoses, and failed interventions, it is clear that parents and professionals need a better way to identify multi-exceptional individuals—especially those on the autism spectrum, in order to provide the most effective supports and interventions. Through our work, we sought the mentorship of Dr. Lorna Wing and Dr. Judith Gould, whose foundational research in autism established the concept of the autism spectrum and led to Asperger’s Disorder becoming widely recognized. Just as importantly, Dr. Wing and Dr. Gould also developed the Diagnostic Interview for Social Communication Disorders (DISCO), a dimensional assessment tool for autism and related disorders that has been proven highly reliable in all populations along the spectrum—from toddler to adult and from severely to mildly impaired. Far superior to the most widely used tools in the US, the DISCO goes beyond determining whether an individual does or does not have autism. Instead, it provides a complete portrait of strengths and challenges thereby giving a clear direction for parents and professionals as they create IEPs and treatment plans. Unfortunately, we discovered that although the DISCO is used internationally, it is unavailable in the US. As a result, we have widened our advocacy efforts by founding Bright Not Broken: The Lorna Wing Institute of America, a not for profit named in memory of our beloved friend and mentor and dedicated to improving the lives of multi-exceptional individuals. By training clinicians in the DISCO and increasing awareness of multi-exceptionality, we hope to provide parents and professionals a better way to identify and support the unique needs of the children they seek to serve. |
FounderRebecca Banks CullRebecca, a veteran educator and mother of two multi-exceptional children, has used her experience to co-author The ADHD-Autism Connection (2002) and Bright Not Broken: Gifted Kids, ADHD, and Autism (2011). Rebecca is co-founder of Bright Not Broken: The Lorna Wing Institute of America, a national speaker, and works to bring together the fields of giftedness and disabilities in order to promote a whole-child approach to diagnosis and intervention.
Clinical DirectorDr. Katy DorendorfDr. Katy Dorendorf, Psy.D. is a licensed psychologist at Palm Beach Behavioral Health and Wellness specializing in the assessment and treatment of developmental disabilities especially autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Dr. Dorendorf has a strong belief that all children possess unique gifts, and it is the responsibility of the adults to help them reach their full potential so they may share these gifts with the world
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FounderDiane M. KennedyDiane is co-author of two internationally acclaimed books,The ADHD-Autism Connection (2002) and Bright Not Broken: Gifted Kids, ADHD, and Autism (2011). As a mother of three multi-exceptional sons, cofounder of Bright Not Broken: The Lorna Wing Institute of America, and a national speaker, Diane now works to bring together the fields of giftedness and disabilities in order to promote a whole-child approach to diagnosis and intervention.
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