This book is about me!

My name is

Please read! This book will help you to get to know me and how I communicate.

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All About Me!

• I was born in 1998• My birthday is in June• I live with my Mum and

Dad• I go to George Hastwell

School

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You need to know...

1. I do not have any speech (but I am vocal!)

2. I cannot walk without my walking frame and I use a wheelchair. I have a standing frame too

3.I have learning difficulties so I might not understand things like other children do, but you still need to talk to me and tell me things

4.I like ‘happy’ people, if you don’t smile I won’t be happy

5. I do not function well if I am not well or I am tired

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• My family is–MumDadNannaGrandadBethany – my cousinAuntie ChristineUncle Darren

I love my FamilyI like to talk about them so

you need to know who everybody is

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My Friends

• My best friend in my cousin Bethany, when she visits me it makes me very happy. Sometimes she stays overnight

• My friends at school are Robbie, Adam, Darren and Bradley.

• Robbie plays games with me and makes me laugh

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• My Mum makes me chuckle, she sings and dances around the house. We cuddle a lot and play with my toys. We like to watch videos together. Mum calls me her Big, beautiful girl

• Dad plays Peek-a-boo with me. He hides behind his hands or a cushion

• Nanna is funny, she dances and sings like Mum. Nanna brings me goodies like chocolate and raisins which I love. Nanna always visits me if I have to stay in hospital

Special People Special Things

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• Grandad always tickles me. If he has not had a shave for a few days he always gives me a ‘whisker rub’ on my hands. This makes me chuckle!!

• My teacher and the other classroom staff encourage and support me

Special People Special Things

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• I don’t talk but I like you to talk with me about –Balamory–Tweenies–The Wiggles–Dora the ExplorerThese are my favourite programmes

I like action rhymes, especially tickly ones or ones where I can anticipate what comes next.

I like number rhymes and songs

Things I like totalk about

Things I like totalk about

•I love books – I am very good at turning pages on my own and I can concentrate for quite a long time – so you could talk to me about the book I am looking at

•If I could talk I would tell Mum and Dad what I was doing at school (I might not tell them if I had been up to too much mischief!)

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How I Communicate (1)

• When I am happy I smile like a Cheshire cat or chuckle

•When I am not happy I cry or whine

•When I want something I reach over for it or eye point

•If I don’t want something I push it way with my hands

•If I am not well or in pain I cry

•At home if I want a cuddle I grab hold of Mum’s arm and hug her

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How I Communicate (2)

•I don’t usually need to tell you I am hungry as I have regular meals•When I am thirsty I grab for a drink if there is one within reach or sight•When I smile I am telling youI am happy and content•At school I have symbols to help me choose

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You can help me to communicate

Please DO• Use my name

when you talk to me

• Shake my hand (how do you do?)

• Wave ‘hello’• Stroke my

hands• Smile• Tell me what

is happening and where we are going

Please DON’T

• Forget to talk to me

• Talk using too many words or words that are too long

• Suddenly take me somewhere or touch me without telling me what is happening first

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Fun Things!• I like

•Watching videos

•Going for a walk in my wheelchair

•Playing with my toys

•Drawing and making pictures (some people say it is scribbling!)

•Listening to music and playing my tambourine

•Looking at picture cards and books

•Splashing in the bath and playing with toys

•At school standing up at the sink to wash up

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Fun Things!• I like

•Watching people dance, especially Mum when we are being silly!

•Going in the car for a drive (I like to find an ice cream van while we are out!)

•Getting messy hands with paint or felt tips, I don’t mind. Me and Mum make lovely bits of art

•Water play in a bowl with toys

•Working with the parachute with my group

•Playing pat a cake and see saw margery daw

•I am learning to clap

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I like going to..

• The beach – I like to feel the sand and eat ice cream

• The zoo – I enjoy being pushed in my chair but I have to be careful where my hands go

• The sensory room at school

• Shopping with Mum – if we haven’t got the car we go on the bus – I like moving and watching all the people

• Hydrotherapy

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I can’t stand it!

• Sudden loud noises• People talking too loud• If Mum talks to someone

for too long and I am in my chair. I get fed up!

• If I am left in a room on my own for too long

So don’t say you haven’t been warned….

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I’m working on this….

• Getting people to talk to me

by smiling and making noises

• Copying sounds

• Learning to understand a few

words at a time

• Reaching for something I am

asked for having looked at the

same thing first.

• Making choices with symbols –

I can already choose with

objects

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I’m working on this too….

• Looking at what I am meant to

be doing not what everyone

else is doing

• Not reaching for things

someone else is using

• Looking at things closely to

help my eyes

• Pulling myself up to standing

• Recognising numbers and

shapes

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• I need help to do a lot of things but if you know I can do something myself please let me do it.

• I need to be reminded not to take things just because I can reach them – and you will be surprised just how far I can reach!

• I need to be encouraged to help myself out of my chair

Help me please!

The Physical Stuff

I need to stand everyday for about an hour. I can help get myself in and out of my stander. I need to be held tight against the frame around my hips but the strap around my upper back may be loose to encourage me to hold myself up. 

The Physical Stuff

I can move on my own in my walker and should use it for at least half an hour every day. I can help put myself in my walker

I need to be quite upright but need to take my weight through my feet rather than sitting on the saddle

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• I can give myself food with my hands. I might need reminding when it is best not to use my hands

• I need to be given my main meals with a spoon although Mum helps me hold the spoon and I can grab it

• I drink from a beaker with help- I know how to hold it but I forget to keep hold of it.

• I understand the names of a few foods and drink, dinner and dinner time and the signs for them

Eating and Drinking

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• My eyesight is good, but I have a ‘slight turn’ in my right eye which you can see when I get tired

• This has improved with me looking at books and other ‘close up’ work

• The optician does not think I will need glasses

What’s my sight like?

Medical Stuff

I have asthma. I have a ventolin inhaler with a spacer. I use this at dinner time at school and if I need it because I am very wheezy

I sometimes get very hot and dehydrated and this can make me have a seizure so please make sure I have plenty to drink and make sure I do not get too hot.

Mum bathes me in a special bath oil and cream,