Easter Seals Disability Services

Sasha is a two year ten month old little girl who receives Early Intervention services through Easter Seals of SC.  She has been diagnosed with Isodicentric Chromosome 15q and Pervasive Developmental Disorder.  Sasha receives ABA therapy through South Carolina Early Autism Project as well as physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.  Sasha has an Early Intervention Specialist, Jennifer Strock, who visits with her weekly to help her reach age appropriate goals with communication, fine motor, oral motor and self help skills.  Some of those goals include being able to use words and signs to indicate her wants and needs; use a spoon or fork during feeding times; use hands in manipulatives; use oral motor skills in blowing bubbles, eating, blowing whistles.

During Sasha’s free time, she enjoys spending time with her mom, dad and sisters, listening to and making music.  She likes playing peek-a-boo and enjoys playing with ducks.  Sasha is fascinated with the color yellow and will even walk up to the colors on the wall in her daycare and touch the prints of yellow and smile.  Sasha likes for one to sing Itsy bitsy spider and gets excited when one helps her to do the finger motions.  John MacLeod, dad says, “Sasha likes to push her baby in the stroller, and enjoys looking at photos of her family and therapists. She has a favorite teddy bear she sleeps with, and loves all books. She would watch “Signing Time” videos all day if we let her - they always make her smile. She loves being outside and always tries to pet cats and dogs.”

When working on using a spoon and/ or fork with Sasha, she really shows a love for food and will say “mmm” as she is taking a bite.  Some of her favorite foods include grapes, cheese, and ice cream.  Sasha recognizes pictures of her sisters during her sessions and will begin bouncing and smiling when she sees the pictures.  “She loves her sisters, especially when they entertain her,” dad.  Many words are being focused on to encourage imitation.  “The word “Achooo!” always makes her giggle,” says Amy MacLeod, mom. 

The family has learned the importance of strong praise as a motivator from their early intervention services.  Dad states “From the start our Early Interventionist showed us how to encourage joint attention through reading, singing and game playing with Sasha.”  During their free time, the family likes to go out to the zoo, the mall, Ed Venture, and Monkey Joes.  Dad says, “Sasha is always energized by new experiences, and she loves to go to the pool, or even take a bath. There are always opportunities to work on her balance, strength and joint attention. We use a lot of ASL signs when we speak as reinforcement, and work with balance ball, spinning, swinging, joint compressions, and other techniques we have picked up from therapists.” Sasha has come a long way since receiving early intervention.  She has gone from not being able to sit, to making efforts at running.  “Knowing that there is a group of dedicated professionals working together to help our daughter has made a tremendous difference. Easter Seals has been great at sharing information among Sasha’s caregivers, and making resources available to her,” says mom and dad.