|
|
It is now 2004, Ben has just started at the Starlight group which is a special needs nursery which can give him intensive physiotherapy and speech and language therapy, two days a week. He seems to enjoy it. Ben still has Portage at home on a Thursday and attends a mainstream nursery 3 days a week.
Hopefully by attending the Starlight group he will soon be able to communicate with us, we do still do sign language with Ben and he does sign back to us occassionally but he tends to do one sign for everything.
The other hope is that with intensive physiotherapy Ben may start to pull himslf up to stand and eventually walk, however he is now crawling so he does get around.
Hopefully with the introduction of the Starlight group and the continuing Portage sessions, Ben will be properly assessed before attending school therefore ensuring that he recieves all the support that he needs.2004
Whilst Ben is at the Starlight group he receives regular physio and has the use of a miniwalker frame to enable Ben to mobilise. We have now arranged for Ben to have a miniwalker at home to continue with mobilisation both at home and at Edgemoor Nursery, which is a mainstream nursery that Ben attends three times a week. This combined with The Starlight group has encouraged Ben to interact with other children and he enjoys attending both nurseries.
whilst at the starlight group Ben had the use of a Sensory room which contained fibre optic lights, A bubble lamp fitted with a special switch to allow the children to change the colours therefore learning cause and effect, A Mirror Ball and colourful projections around the room accompanied by soft music and relaxing seating. Ben responded well to this therapy and we are currently trying to raise money for Ben to have some of this equipmant at home.
The staff at Edgemoor are understanding of Ben's needs and help encourage Ben with the goals set by The Starlight Group. A representative from both Starlight Group and Edgemoor attend Ben's Case conferences which enable all the health care and educational professionals to discuss Ben's development and therefore work together to encourage his strengths and weaknesses.
Ben has now been statemented and will be starting at a special school in Plymouth in January 2005, initially just 2 days a week, so that he can continue to attend his mainstream nursery.
We will miss the 'Starlight Group' as it has helped Ben greatly over the last year, but now that he will be starting school we can see it as another milestone achieved, and can look to the future. 2005 Ben has now started school, and so far he seems to really enjoy it, although it does tire him out. A taxi collects Ben from home in the morning and drops him off again in the evening. He will be recieving hydrotherapy whilst at school, and his speech therapy and physiotherary will take place at the school.
|
|
|
