“Learn about cutting edge new research to address the academic, social, and emotional needs of high ability students with learning challenges by focusing on their strengths and interests. For the last five years, a team of researchers has been studying the ways in which we can educate and support neurodivergent, twice-exceptional students with autism who have succeeded academically and are attending highly competitive universities to pursue their dreams. Explore which strength-based strategies worked best and how these were implemented at school and at home in this uplifting and positive keynote,” said Dr. Reis. Sally M. Reis, Ph.D. was a classroom teacher and administrator in public education before beginning her work at the University of Connecticut over three decades ago, where she served as an Endowed Professor, as well as the Vice Provost of Academic Affairs. She was Principal Investigator of the National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented. Her research interests are related to talent development in all children, as well as special populations including talented students with disabilities, talented girls and women, and diverse groups of talented students who are often underserved. She has authored or co-authored numerous books, including The Schoolwide Enrichment Model, with Dr. Joseph Renzulli, and many book chapters, monographs, and technical reports.