Cultural Pathways of Twice-Exceptional Development: A Case Study of a Blind Saxophonist in China

This qualitative single-case study examines how giftedness, disability, and culture intersect in the life of Jian, a blind saxophonist in southern China. Framed within research on twice-exceptionality, we explore how Jian, as a twice-exceptional (2e) individual, navigates the intersection of disability and giftedness within a Confucian-influenced sociocultural and educational landscape. Through six in-depth, semi-structured interviews, we investigate (a) how traditional Confucian beliefs about the Mandate of Heaven and moral cultivation both constrain and empower 2e pathways; (b) how the five factors in Wu’s Chinese model of talented performance intersect with cultural hierarchies, family expectations, and institutional supports across Jian’s developmental stages; and (c) how identity negotiation through music redefines giftedness and social contribution for a marginalized 2e learner. The study contributes a culturally grounded perspective on twice-exceptionality and highlights the need for more inclusive, flexible, and strength-based educational and policy approaches for gifted learners with disabilities in China.