Ch.+8+resources

Brief Case Study Maria L. Name of Student: Maria L. Age: 3 years 5 months Current Placement: Preschool

Maria, age 3 years 5 months, went with her mother to her neighborhood school during the school's early childhood screening session. In the course of the school's preschool screening program, Maria was identified as a child who needed further assessment and observation.

The school obtained additional information about Maria through an interview with her mother. Maria was born 6 weeks prematurely. She weighed a little over 4 pounds at birth and also had trouble breathing. During her first two years, she frequently suffered from colds, and between the ages of 2 and 3, she had at least eight serious ear infections. Motor development seemed to be normal, she sat up, walked and crawled at the same age as her older siblings. Her language development, however, was slower than her older siblings. Maria seemed to understand language when others spoke to her, but she could not use language well enough to make her wants known. She did not use any words until the age of 2 and even now only uses very short sentences, such as, "Me want pizza", or "Him break cup". She often uses the wrong word or simply points to what she wants. She still has temper tantrums, which seem to be triggered by her inability to communicate what she wants. Maria was evaluated at the school by an IFSP team (Individualized Family Service Plan). She was identified as having a "language delay".


 * Case Study Questions **

**1. What kind of school program should Maria receive? ** **2. What kinds of school personnel and related services personnel should be working with Maria? **

**3. What strategies can be used to help Maria with her language development? ** 