Leelo Rosenberg:
Team Meeting Minutes: 11/15/04
- NLP: Last meeting we talked about how Leelo has
been imitating 3 or fewer words, and less spontaneous language, even while
his spontaneous language in home contexts is flowing. Also, we talked about increasing the
fun and spontaneity by trying NLP in other activities and
environments. Therapist L tried it
while playing hide and seek in the bed, with some success. Let’s continue
with this.
This week we will
try the following procedure modification to emphasize the play skill goals of
NLP:
·
Reduce # of words to 2 words
·
Model same phrase 2 times, paired with action w/toy
·
Pause, do action w/toy;
We are looking for “delayed imitation”- for Leelo
to imitate the same phrase he had been practicing on the previous 2
trials. Novel, spontaneous phrases are
even better. Also, make a note if Leelo
starts imitating the action with the toy.
- Reinforcement: Supervisor M still observing that Leelo is
often not motivated by his reinforcers; Let’s make a habit of offering choices
every few trials (mini reinforcer assessments )- “are you working for X or
Y”. If Leelo does not select
either, then he is demonstrating the need for a different item for
reinforcement, so switch toys/foods.
Also, remember to intersperse easy/mastered tasks
with harder/new tasks. The easy tasks
create a responding “momentum” to keep the flow of instruction going, and may
actually be a mild reinforcement as well.
- Gross Motor imitation: After
playing with mirrors, verbal directions, etc, with mixed results, let’s
return to a pure, imitation task.
SD= “Do this” plus model action.
Try 2 repetitions of “do this” + action, then just do action
(omitting “do this”).
- Maintenance: Previously
we have been doing maintenance weekly/every other week.
Leelo readily performs most mastered tasks, except for 2 steps:
gross motor imitation, play sequences, etc. Let’s try a new system, which will create more interspersal
of mastered tasks and may reduce demands on Leelo during the “cold
season”. Therapists will do about
2 maintenance areas each day (e.g. gross motor and body parts), mixed into
instruction of newer tasks. (e.g.
tasks that are not yet mastered but are ready for “mixed” trials).
- Iron Gate: Leelo continues to enjoy his
mornings at Iron Gate. He has been on two “trips” (a leaf-collecting walk
around the block, and a trip to the mailbox) during which he participated
as nicely as his peers, staying (more or less) with his therapist,
collecting leaves, putting his letter in the mailbox. Therapist F is hard at work chosing
mastered tasks to focus on for incidental instruction and practice at Iron
Gate. She will talk with Teacher K
about which tasks to emphasize, and specific people and scenarios for
practice.
- Play Group:
Iz and Danielle are beginning to spontaneously adjust their own
interactions with Leelo, using fewer words when he is not responsive. On Leelo’s birthday the group made a
party, and the girls took turns giving Leelo directions. Therapist L bought Leelo a wonderful
new game, Lucky Ducks, for all to enjoy.
For now, Leelo likes it best with the sound/action turned off. Therapist F also bought Leelo a fun
Playdoh set with body parts to stick in- for certain this will come in
handy in play group and during maintenance activities.
- Put on Pyjamas: Leelo should
be prompted to put on his one-piece pyjamas with the zipper in the back,
as this is how he manages to keep them on all night. Of course, therapists
will help w/ the zipper. Prompt Leelo to say “Zip me, Therapist
F/Therapist L”.
- Illness and behavior: Leelo has had a cold/runny nose/
possible sinus infection recently.
He has had an increase in hitting himself, and had a “tantrum” at
school. As with us all, illness
tends to make any difficult tasks even more challenging. We can help Leelo when he is not
feeling well by generally reducing demands (doing more preferred,
mastered, easy tasks; doing fewer new, challenging tasks, spending more
time in less stimulating/confusing environments). This should reduce his use of behavior
to “escape” from demands. And, as
always, prompt the appropriate alternatives (request “all done”, other
requests).
- Next meeting scheduled: Dec 6 at 12:30, with guest participant
Leelo’s new sibling!!
No
Therapy Fri Nov 26
Therapist
F out Fri Dec 3 (Grandma MP at Iron Gate w/Leelo?)
Lots
of instructional modifications this meeting.
Thanks everyone for your focus.