Friday, May 1, 2015

Progress in the Special Needs Program

Special Needs program update:

Some amazing things have been going on with the special needs program here at GSF. I am amazed at what God is doing and what great workers He has provided for these awesome children. I am so thankful for these amazing people I get to work with on a daily basis. We have made some changes to the program in the last few months, and we are seeing great results.  The 13 children who have special needs and cannot attend regular school are now on full daily programs.  Our team now consists of me (the special needs coordinator), our physical therapist who comes two days a week, our occupational therapist who works every day from 8-2, Auntie Christine who is an amazing lady who implements the schedule daily, Teacher Joel who is a certified teacher who works with these children in their daily schedules, and one young lady, Lisa, who is learning about jobs and responsibilities by working with our team.  We are so blessed, and I enjoy the time I spend with them on a daily basis. They love these kids so well and work very hard every day. 

Here are the activities that we provide for the children who have special needs on a daily basis depending on their needs and skill level.:

Life Skills (bathing/dressing/brushing teeth, etc)
Sensory Room (trampoline, ball pit, blocks, music, etc)
Jobs (sweeping, mopping, taking trash, washing clothes, etc)
Going for a Walk
Skills Class (cooking, crafting, fine motor, cleaning, gross motor, cooperative games, etc)
Story Time (looking at books, listening to stories)
Academic Class (matching, picture identification, name recognition, following directions, drawing, writing, colors, body parts, etc)
Sensory Play (smelling, tasting, touching different textures, water play, playing with toys that make noise, playing with objects that are bright colors, etc)
Time at the playground
Swinging
Beginning Skills (cleaning, washing face, putting away toys, pulling up and down pants, opening doors, climbing stairs, etc)
Toddler Time (music, movement and learning with the toddlers at GSF)
Therapy (walking, climbing, standing, stretching, positioning, etc)
Vision Training
Eye Gaze Communication


John and Auntie Christine getting some energy out on the trampoline in the Sensory Room

Tom playing with Legos in the Sensory Room while wearing a compression vest for sensory input and a soft helmet to protect from injury.  

Moses "cleaning up" the sensory room by driving blocks back and forth using a dump truck.

Baby Sarah and Auntie Sarah dancing to music in the sensory room.
Mercy enjoying time in her stander
Lilly washing her own clothes.
Lilly and Kathy doing their daily job of sweeping and cleaning at Agape Childcare Center
Kathy and friends working on cutting skills by cutting a banana for snack during skills class.
Elijah helping me roll out a traditional food (Chapati) before we cook it! 

Lilly and Kathy enjoying the swings while Tom sits nearby playing in the grass (his favorite past time).

Tom with occupational therapist Joseph (left) and John with Teacher Joel (right) having sensory play on Agape Childcare Center back porch. 
Kenny enjoying swinging in a blanket while Auntie Christine and Teacher Joel swing him. 

Mercy, Kenny, and Sarah enjoying water play during Sensory Play Time.