scottp dot net - Scott Pilkinton

Hannah will be three years old in less than 2 weeks.  I have wanted to start sharing information and experiences regarding Hannah for some time now, I just kept telling myself I needed more time to get started.

We recently completed an All About Me letter for Hannah.  I thought it would be a great starting point for sharing information about Hannah and special needs information in general…

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ALL ABOUT ME LETTER 

My Name is:  Hannah Pilkinton

This report is all about Hannah Pilkinton 

I would like you to get to know me so that you will provide me with the love, support and services that I need.  This booklet has information about me that I think is important for you to know. 

About me and my Family: I have two older brothers.  Jacob is 9 and Joseph is 7 years old.  I love them and my Mommy and Daddy.  I am happy as long as I am not hurt, sick or over stimulated.  I sometimes get excited and bite down on things or the people holding me but, I don’t mean to hurt anyone. 

Special things I like to do or play with: I love to play peek-a-boo.  I love books and music.  I like anything that I can pull on.  I like strings or ‘stretchy’ things that I can pull with my fingers.  I love to swing forward and backward and I also like vibration.   

What I don’t like to do: I don’t like to swing from side to side or in circles (it’s too much stimulation).  I don’t like to be tickled or be in a room with loud “people noise”, such as clapping or raised voices.  I also don’t like to be in a crowded area.  I don’t like my hands or back touched. 

If you do this for me, I might do more for you: Give me something to pull on or a favorite toy, such as a sensory touch ball.  I also like music and strings or wires. 

My favorite foods are: I can’t eat at school because I choke easily and sometimes aspirate. 

But I don’t like or can’t eat these foods:  My mom will feed me at home.  I have special feeding needs 
 

Let Me Tell You about Me and My Family 

My Name:  Hannah Pilkinton 

My Birth Date:  June 2003 

My Family:  Mom – Cheri Pilkinton
Dad – Scott Pilkinton
Brothers – Jacob and Joseph 
 

Special Arrangements I will need 

Adaptive equipment or Special Supplies: I have a wheelchair because I can’t walk.  I need a bronco walker to move around.  I need to swing when I need stimulation.  I may need therapeutic headphones and music when I need to block out unpleasant sounds.  I use a step-by-step to participate during story time and a partner assisted communication book and Big Mac to help me communicate.  I need a special chair with a harness to sit in to do activities. 

Other Service Needs: 

I require Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Occupational Therapy.  Music Therapy would inspire me to develop my fine motor skills and give me stimulation at the same time. 

Medications: I am taking Phenobarbital, Topamax, and Lamictal for a seizure disorder.  I take 1 Tbsp. of Duocal once a day for added calories.  I take Diastat rectally only when needed to stop a seizure that lasts more than five minutes.  I take Xopenex via nebulizer when I have trouble breathing. 

Allergies: I do not have any known allergies 

My Strengths and Needs

Let me tell you about my communication abilities and needs: 

I may bang on something when I want more or am trying to get sensory input.  I f I cry, something is wrong.  I rarely cry or get completely still.  I tense up and have high tone when excited or hyperfocued and will bite if someone holds me close and I am excited or frustrated.  I may make sounds but no words when playing.  I will let you know my needs by my expressions and body language.

Let me tell you about my personal care/adaptive abilities and needs: 

I wear a body brace.  I have to wear it all day but, it has to come off when I need a clean diaper.  It will need to be put back on after being changed.  I also wear braces on my feet to help me stand without rolling my ankles.  I can not eat at school due to my swallowing issues.  I do not respond to commands so, I will need to be taken to different centers.  I can’t walk so, I will need to be carried, go in a wheelchair, or in a walker.  I can cruise furniture but, can not move forward without a walker that supports me all around.  I will need a chair with a harness or, I will fall.  I will crawl away if I lose interest.

Let me tell you about my health, including hearing and vision: 

I have congenital heart disease, severe scoliosis, severe dysphasia and aspiration, seizure disorder, mild hydrocephalus, and developmental delays.  I have two lazy eyes, especially my left eye and no depth perception.  I may be farsighted.  I can hear but will not respond to name if distracted at all.  I will have another ABR test soon.

Let me tell you how I learn: 

I learn better through play therapy.  I like to play games like peek-a-boo.  I focus better if I am in a chair and am right in front of teacher.  It is not easy to get my attention and keep it.  I respond well to positive verbal intonation and music.  I like computers and buttons or switches that I can activate. 

These are my family’s concerns about me: 

My family is concerned about my seizure disorder.  I am more likely to have a seizure at onset of an illness.  However, sometimes I have one with no known reason.  All of my seizures present themselves differently; however most of the time, I will turn my head slightly to the right, along with my eyes.  I may slightly produce rhythmic mouth movements.  I may or may not twitch or shake.  My family is also concerned because I get choked easily.  I can get over stimulated.  I may need to swing or take a break from other children. 

In case of emergency call: 

I case of emergency, call mom at xxx or xxx.  Also, call 911 if seizure happens at school.  Timing the length of the seizure is also very important. 

Communication Map 

Family –> Hannah 

We watch Hannah’s facial expressions.  If she cries, we check to see if she is over stimulated, hurt, or has a dirty diaper.  If she turns her head away from something, she has had enough because it is over stimulating. 

Service Providers –> Hannah 

Hannah’s service providers sign “more” and “all done” to her.  They use positive voice intonation when talking to her and play therapy with her to encourage speech.  Her speech therapist imitates the sounds Hannah makes to encourage speech. 

Community –> Hannah 

People outside our home will try to talk to Hannah but will walk away when they get no response.  She doesn’t usually respond to them at all.  She may stare if it’s a child. 

Communication Map Output 

Hannah –> Family 

Hannah will pull up on an adult if they get in the floor with her.  She may grab mothers hand to try to get help with toy activation.  She will bang if she wants more. 

Hannah –> Service providers 

Hannah will reach for toy if Therapist takes away before ready or will make frustrated sound and beat arms up and down if mad. 

Hannah –> Community 

Hannah will smile and pull up on any adult that sits in the floor with her.  She doesn’t notice adults if she’s in her wheelchair but will stare at another child. 

Preferences for 

Likes 

Strings, Wire, anything she can wrap around her foot and pull or pluck with fingers.  Hannah likes music and things that stretch or light up.  Hannah loves to hold and look at books.  Hannah likes to put hands in different things, like rice, pasta, play dough, etc. 

Hannah likes to be outside on cool days.  She likes to splash in water.  Hannah likes to crawl and pull up on things like tables.  She loves watches, bracelets, and necklaces and will try to pull them.  Hannah likes to have someone sing to her. 

Dislikes 

Hannah doesn’t like her hands touched or to be held still in someone’s lap or arms held.  She doesn’t like loud voices or clapping.  She doesn’t like to be tickled.  She doesn’t like to be brushed.  She doesn’t like other kids to touch her. Hannah doesn’t like to be outside if it’s hot.  She will cry.  She doesn’t like to have a favorite toy taken away when she’s really focused on it.  She doesn’t like water on her face.  She doesn’t like her hands grabbed or to be restrained physically by someone. 

1.  What types of things does your child enjoy learning? 

Hannah enjoys learning new games like “peek-a-boo” or “so-big”.  She likes walking in her walker or cruising around a table.  She also likes anything that plays music or for someone to sing a song. 

2.  What things are the most difficult for your child to learn? 

Hannah has trouble picking up and holding things for any amount of time.  She can’t color by herself and struggles to place items in something. 

3.  What are your child’s favorite toys and activities? 

Hannah likes her 5 – function sensory board.  It vibrates, plays music, lights up, and has a string she can pull.  She also likes her ball toy that plays music and blows the balls with a fan.  She loves to wrap strings, necklaces, or beads around her foot and pulls on them. 

4.  How does your child get along with other children? 

Hannah doesn’t currently play with other children.  She gets absorbed in what she’s doing.  She will take something away if she’s interested in it and not notice other child.  She will smile and laugh at her older brothers.  She pulls their hair and grabs their faces.

5.  What types of rewards work best with your child? 

Hannah likes hugs, smiles, and stretchy string like items.  She also responds well to “happy” voices.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 23rd, 2006 at 10:27 pm and is filed under Personal. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.