Ability Plus is a space for parents and families with high-ability/gifted, 2E (twice exceptional) and 3E (thrice exceptional) children in India. We support parents, teachers and educators in identifying a child’s abilities, whether below, average or higher than ‘average/age-peers’, so that each child receives appropriate support and encouragement for their academic, cognitive, physical, social and emotional development.
Giftedness:
‘Gifted’, or high-ability children, are neuro-diverse children on the other side of the range as compared to those with learning disabilities as a result of a medical or physical condition. Just because they are neurotypical and above-average in a particular field/area, does not mean that they do not require necessary support, encouragement and motivation. But because of the diversity amongst these gifted children, they actually need extremely focused and extensive support system, consisting of relevant people and required resources.
Gifted children are those who usually achieve developmental milestones early, become early readers/talkers, show exceptional abilities to understand and connect concepts, show amazing levels of understanding in their area of interest, are extremely opinionated and display a wide range of emotions at a young age.
‘Giftedness’ is not clearly understood by majority in India. Unfortunately, it is often confused with other terms used to describe children with learning disabilities due to a medical or physical condition.
2E (Twice Exceptional):
Twice-exceptional (2E) children demonstrate giftedness/high-ability alongside learning disabilities/difficulties. This dual exceptionality creates a complex learning experience. Identifying and supporting twice- exceptional children mostly includes personalized strategies that incorporate their strengths and struggles to help them thrive academically and personally.
3E (Thrice Exceptional):
Thrice-exceptional (3E) children are those who exhibit giftedness/high-ability, struggle with a learning difficulty/disorder and possess heightened social or emotional sensitivities due to intense emotional experiences (trauma, abuse, etc.) or belonging to a particular societal group (those belonging to tribal areas, socio/economically backward families or marginalised sections of society – like children raised by transgenders, sex workers, etc.)
Recognizing and supporting 3E learners involves a comprehensive and intricate approach that addresses their strengths, learning struggles, and emotional well-being in their individual context. Parents and educators for 3E children, need a heightened sense of self-awareness to be able to connect with and nurture them.
Our Principal Advisor:
Ketika Kasetwar is an Educational Consultant with a specialized focus on Gifted Education, Special Educational Needs (SEN), and Alternate Learning domains. With a wealth of expertise in integrating resources to design individualised learning programs and assessment tools aligned with specific academic standards, she is an active member of India’s alternate education community, guiding homeschooled students navigate the NIOS exam system in India. As a devoted parent to a high-ability child, Ketika deeply understands the importance of early intervention in crafting suitable learning frameworks and implementing focused assessment strategies, all while ensuring an engaging and enjoyable learning journey.
In addition to her role as an Educational Consultant, Ketika brings forth a diverse professional background, having served as a Communications Consultant to many global companies. She is a certified Gifted Educator, SEN Coach, Remedial Teacher, Adolescent Health and Sexuality Counsellor, Academic Counsellor, Child Development Specialist, IEP Consultant for alternate learning spaces, STEAM & Jolly Phonics trainer, Strategic Communicator, Electronics Engineer and a Sarp-mitra.
Driven by her personal journey in embracing an alternate education approach for her own daughter, Ketika channels her passion towards empowering parents and educators with the knowledge and tools necessary to support their children in unlocking their full potential across all facets of development. Central to her mission is the elevation of awareness surrounding various dimensions of child development, especially Gifted, 2E and 3E, and the facilitation of parents’ adept utilization of available resources, fostering a generation of thriving individuals.
A short text about us…
We became a part of the Pune’s homeschooling community almost a decade ago, when I received invaluable support and guidance from fellow alternative schooling families. I was unsure if I would be able to take up the homeschooling path, especially as a single parent, but we’ve flourished both individually and as a family ever since.
For us, homeschooling is not just about academics or ‘schooling’, but a way of life. Over the years, we’ve cultivated our unique approach to how we want to progress in our learning journey. Primarily, shifting our focus from ‘learning to give exams’ to ‘learning to gain knowledge’. With ‘exposure’ being our main keyword, we constantly seek ways to increase it, often finding opportunities during one of our activities – whether it is long-drives, nature walks, wildlife rescues, environment conservation projects, video-gaming, planning our next art exhibition or learning about local history from rural community.
Currently, we are pursuing a multi-grade academic learning programme for my daughter, often taking help from experts, tutors and the alternate education community of India.
Driven by my personal journey of raising a gifted child in India, I transitioned from a Corporate Communications consultant to an Educational Consultant. My primary focus is to strengthen the support available for families with gifted children in India. Academically, I am a certified Gifted Educator, SEN Coach, Remedial Teacher, Adolescent Health and Sexuality Counsellor, Academic Counsellor, Child Psychology and Development Specialist, IEP Consultant for alternate schools, STEAM & Jolly Phonics trainer, Strategic Communicator, and Electronics Engineer. Currently, I am pursuing a doctoral degree that combines my varied personal and professional experiences to increase awareness about alternate academic options available for gifted, 2E and 3E children in India.