About a boy
Author: Helen Francis & Joanna Lloyd
Magazine issue: Autumn 08
Page numbers: 12-14
Date: 31 August 2008
URL: http://www.speechmag.com/content/files/SLTiPAut08FrancisLloyd.pdf
Helen Francis is a speech and language therapist and Joanna Lloyd an occupational therapist at St Margaret’s School for children with profound and multiple learning difficulties and complex health needs. One pupil Mark John (then aged 14) had profound and multiple learning difficulties, sensory defensiveness and severe communication difficulties. It was difficult for him show preferences and for staff to understand his choice making. Helen worked with Mark John on an Individualised Sensory Environments programme, while Joanna carried out a programme of occupational therapy. With both feeling they had reached an impasse, they combined aims and set up a programme of joint working with Individualised Sensory Environments and sensory integration techniques. As this took effect and his sensory tolerance increased, Mark John was able to make progress with communication and life skills. In addition to joint working, the authors discuss the importance of using a sensitive measurement tool to identify targets and record outcomes.
