Julia's Meeting

This morning was Julia's meeting to decide whether or not she would be eligible for services through the public school next year.

Here are the summaries from each evaluator, detailing their concerns and recommendations.

Physical Therapy
"Julia is an adorable 2.10 year old girl who presents with low muscle tone, decreased proximal stability, generalized muscle weakness, gravitational/posture insecurity and joint laxity which impact her ability to acquire gross motor, loco motor and balance skills. Julia presents with delayed gross motor and balance skills. Julia also presents with delayed reflexes.

Julia will benefit from physical therapy services in a small sensory-motor group 2 times a week for 45 minutes. Therapy will focus on improving joint stability, proximal stability, overall strength and endurance, improving balance skills, improving sitting balance, improving postural stability,improving gross motor development, stair climbing ans gait pattern."

Occupational Therapy
"Occupational Therapy testing reveals slightly low postural/proximal tone and stability and weak body awareness is space. Sensory motor skills are developing. Information compiled from the sensory profile indicates weaknesses in modulation related to movement and visual input, sensory processing related to tone and endurance, registration, and oral sensory processing.

Julia is a sweet little girl who presents with a delay in the areas of sensory motor and fine motor development. It is recommended that Julia participates in a sensory motor group for 45 minutes per week. Consultation should be available to parent/teacher on an as needed basis in order to address sensory concerns."

Speech and Language
"Julia is a 2.1o year old child referred for this evaluation by her parents and EI. According to an interview with Julia's mother, she spoke her first words at 18 months and began combining words after 2 years of age. She has reportedly made progress in her speech skills recently, but continues to have difficulty with language and understanding. Based on this assessment, it is recommended that Julia receive direct speech and language therapy targeting speech sound development, improving intelligibility in conversation and listening skill development. Ongoing evaluation is warranted in the area of articulation development. I look forward to working with Julia."

All three mentioned in the meeting that it was apparent that Julia had difficulty, "separating from Mom," and noted that she seems intensely shy. There was also question as to whether or not Julia understood all that was being asked of her or if she just "wasn't paying attention."

So, what does this mean? Basically it means that whether or not it is in a classroom setting, Julia will be receiving speech, PT and OT two time per week starting in September, through the public school. The way we have it set up for now is that she will be in the classroom for an 8 week trial period, after which we will meet again, to see if she will benefit from the social interaction that is part of the classroom, or if she only needs the outside services in the sense of a small speech group and a combined OT/PT group.