Question

You are an educator in an out of school hours care centre. You are working one-on-one with Thomas, a six-year-old boy with an intellectual disability. Responses should demonstrate inclusive practices and how to interpret and respond to out of character behaviour.

. Provide examples of observations (including one out of character observation) that might be used to assess Thomas’s:

Play preferences.

Social interactions.

Communication and language.

Thinking styles

. Physical abilities.

Emotional status.

Answer 1

1.

Play preferences-

Chikdren with intellectual disability shkws higher affinity and pattern towarda rough and tumble play rather than coloring, drawing and doll play.

Thomas, shows great liking towarda tumble play, where he used to play with big toys and things ans usually was seen disinterested and challenging if given any activity such as drawing and coloring.

2.

Social interacrions-

Reseaeches state that the social interacrive capacity of the individual depends on the verbal capacity, technical know how and self confidence of the individual.

Thomas seem to take part in interactions within his social group of family and friends but was seen distracted and struglling while trying to manage a social interaction with others in society.

3.

Communication and language-

Thomas seem to have limited verbal knowledge and language difficulties, he is not able to frame sentences and develop his word appropriately. He seema to have reduced communicarion abilities and language difficulties.

4.

Thinking styles-

Thomas is seen to have low cognition, with difficulty in processing new information. He seems to have challenges with thinking as a normal being. The thoughts vary and are diffused wirh dillemma and uncertain process.

5.

Physical abilities-

People with intellectual disability are seem to have accompained certain physicL disavilities too.

Thomas has some disabilities in cognition that leads to challenges in routine such as difficulty in assessing distance and time and tieing his show laces.

6.

Emotional status-

Thomas seems to have varied wmotions, at times he shows challenging behavior that is not managable while at other times he shows some subtle and calming emotions. Moreover, the presentation of Thomas as chellenging behavior is mainly due to his agitation, social anxiety and inability to solve problems.