Gifted Minds, Unique Needs
Voices of Iranian Parents With Gifted Students on the Autism Spectrum
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22410697 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Khodabakhsh Heidari (Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran), Alireza Mohseni (0000-0002-1957-1706, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 70 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 296-311 |
| Publication date | 2026-07-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Gifted Child Quarterly (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0016-9862 • E-ISSN: 1934-9041 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/00169862261425208 |
| OpenAlex | W7160859137 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 38 |
This study examined how Iranian parents experience and interpret the dual identification of giftedness and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), we conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with 11 parents who met the study criteria. Four major themes emerged: a new chapter: the collision of giftedness and diagnosis; parenting against the grain: new roles in unfamiliar terrain; the unique child: between misunderstood strengths and daily struggles; and parental emotion: from grief to reorientation. Parents initially emphasized institutional inadequacy, cultural dissonance, and chronic fatigue, yet over time they described developing adaptive strategies—acquiring new skills, cultivating peer support networks, and redefining success in terms of well-being and autonomy. These findings highlight the urgent need for culturally responsive diagnostic practices, inclusive educational models, and systemic supports that acknowledge the complexities of twice-exceptionality in the Iranian context, thereby extending global conversations on equity in gifted education.
Autism · Autism spectrum disorder · Cross-cultural · Cultural diversity · Grief · Identification (biology) · Interpretative phenomenological analysis · Phenomenology (philosophy) · Autism Spectrum Disorder Research · Education, Achievement, and Giftedness · Family and Disability Support Research
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Interpretative phenomenological analysis.
The Psychometric Properties of the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale (Gars-3) with Kurdish Samples of Children with Developmental Disabilities
Two-factor higher-order model of perfectionism in Iranian general and clinical samples
Factors influencing resilience of parents with children with neurodevelopmental disorders
Education Policies for Gifted Children Within a Human Rights Paradigm
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |