Katie started school one day before her one month birthday. Due to her Down syndrome diagnosis, Katie qualifies for the Early Intervention program involving physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy as needed. Katie will be in Early Intervention until the age of three when she will transition into special education provided through the school district.
To get her started, she first had an evaluation by a school psychologist and a physical therapist. They, along with her Service Coordinator, came to our house to observe Katie and test her developmental level. They asked me many questions about how she communicates (different cries), how she is eating, if she recognizes her family, if she turns towards noises, etc. They also played with her watching her arm and leg movement, her eye tracking, her general strength, her hand grip, her movements on her back and belly, etc.
She tested at the normal level for social-emotional development, cognitive development, adaptive development, and communication development. She does have a delay in her physical development mostly due to her hand grip. Most babies make fists most of the time and hold very tightly when something is placed in their hand. Katie has a weak grasp. Her homework for the next month is tummy and side time and hand grasping practice.
In January the Physical Therapist will start visiting twice a month to help teach me how to help Katie, what skills to watch for and encourage or discourage to help her improve most effectively.
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