Analyzing a child’s new situation

Analyze a child’s new situation and design a plan to support the child and
family through their new exceptional need diagnosis.
Course Competency:
Differentiate characteristics of exceptionalities affecting children from birth to age eight
Instructions:
Choose one of the three provided scenarios. Analyze the situation and, using content from this course and
your previous course work, design a plan for supporting the child and their family through their new exceptional
need diagnosis.
Scenarios:
You are a family childcare provider (in-home childcare) and a child in your program was diagnosed with an
exceptional need. Oskar, a three-year-old boy, is newly diagnosed on the Autistic Spectrum. Growing up in
your program, you had noticed that he never made eye contact and had not yet decided to carry on
conversations. You are pleased that he was diagnosed, but now wonder about how he will be successful in
your mixed-age group family childcare. You are planning to meet with his family to learn more and establish
some plans for supporting his needs.
You are an educator in a center-based childcare and a child in your program was diagnosed with an
exceptional need. Zayada is a one-year-old mobile infant who is newly diagnosed on the Fetal Alcohol
Spectrum. Her guardians brought her in as a foster child with hopes of adoption in the future. They are ready to
support her but have no idea where to start now. You are planning to meet with her family to learn more and
establish some plans for supporting her needs.
You are an educator in a small church-based preschool and a child in your program was diagnosed with an
exceptional need. Emma, a four year old, is newly diagnosed with a speech disorder. She drops the first
syllables of most words and struggles to be understood by her peers. Her mother is concerned that she will be
labeled or teased. She mainly talks to adults if at all. You are planning to meet with her family to learn more
and establish some plans for supporting her needs
Content:
Outline your chosen scenario and explain the child’s newly diagnosed exceptional need. Provide detail as to
indicators, condition and implications for the child. Include one reference to support your explanation.
Design 10 family meeting questions based on their particular situation. Your goal is to learn more about the
child’s diagnosis and the family’s new expectations for your program and their child.
Determine 4 resources (2 written and 2 web resource) you will want to share with your colleagues to support
their understanding of the child’s new diagnosis. Provide an annotated bibliography entry for each resource.
Design 3 developmentally appropriate goals for the child to support their unique learning needs
Describe 3 developmentally appropriate changes or considerations you need to make that will support this
child’s new diagnosis and his/her successful day to day in your program
Establish a follow-up plan for ongoing intervention and support describing ongoing communication between
program and family. Include one reference to support your plans.
Format:
Create a document with following section headers for each required content section labeled as such:
Scenario and Exceptional Need
Family Meeting Questions
Program Resources
Developmentally Appropriate Goals for the child
Developmentally Appropriate Changes and Considerations for the Program
Follow-up Plans