Handout 16: Marlissa
Marlissa is a three-and-a-half-year-old girl who has been in Head Start for three months. She has lived with her aunt and three older cousins since she was an infant. Her aunt works full-time, and Marlissa is cared for by her cousins and a neighbor when she is not in school.
Marlissa is a quiet and attentive child. She is very small for her age, and delayed in speech and language, fine and gross motor skills, and self-care. Her muscles are weak, and her right side is much weaker than her left side. She has recently been given a below- the-knee brace for her right foot and ankle, to keep her foot in a good position for walking, and a small brace for her right hand, to keep her wrist supported and in a good position for fine motor activities. She usually only speaks in response to direct questions, but appears to be very observant.
Marlissa's IEP includes speech therapy at the Head Start program twice a week, and 30 minutes each of occupational and physical therapy once a week, also at Head Start. All of the therapists met with each other, Marlissa's aunt, and the teacher in the beginning of the year. They each keep progress notes at a central location in the program and try to speak with the teacher during each of their visits to the center. None of them has met with Marlissa's aunt or each other since their first meeting three months ago.
Marlissa has been progressing slowly in most areas, but her aunt and teacher are particularly concerned about her self-help skills. Though Marlissa uses the toilet, she has "accidents" almost every day, and needs adult help with every aspect of toileting. Marlissa also needs extra supervision for dressing and eating.
Her aunt and teacher agree that Marlissa wants to do things by herself, but she has trouble with her balance, her strength, and her fine motor skills. The new brace on her right hand has caused her to use that hand even less than before she had the brace. Her aunt and teacher are both concerned that Marlissa is regressing in self-care and they want to meet with the therapists to figure out how they can help Marlissa with these issues.