Case Studies

JL

JL is 11 years old and in the 5 th grade identified with an intellectual disability. He is a good natured student who follows school and classroom rules very well. He interacts positively with his peers as well as adults. He is eager to receive positive praise and is helpful towards others. He enjoys playing outside and loves music class.

JL has been receiving occupational therapy to address goals of writing name and phone number, typing name and typing sentences. He is cooperative in all those goals listed. He has been able to write his name, without a guide, with 25% accuracy. He can type his full name and sentences, from a copy, with 100% accuracy. He does not use both hands when typing.

JL has shown the ability to closely approximate the production of all phonemes except the /k, g/. He can imitate all sounds in words correctly, but often needs cues to pronounce his words clearly and completely. JL, when excited, will rush through sentences, causing him to be difficult to understand at times.

At school, JL understands the reasons for rules and practices self control throughout the day in different environments. However, he is easily distracted and may have difficulty focusing on his work when things are going on around him.

During reading activities, JL will follow words left to right 90% of the time. He identifies uppercase alphabet letters with 81% accuracy. He uses pictures to make predictions about stories and retells stories typically identifying the beginning, middle and end.

JL requires special education staff support for functional academics and life skills, redirection. He goes with his regular education classroom to all resource classes. He also requires visual cues and supports for all activities.

He also comes to a separate class with his special ed grouping for thirty minutes a week for a special music lesson. During those times, JL is asked to sing by himself, play instruments independently, and move along with musical offerings. JL thrives in that environment and looks forward to coming to those special music times.