Derrick Shepherd Case Study Essay

The case student for this project will be Derrick Shepherd. Derrick’s diagnosis is Down syndrome. Derrick is in 4th grade, 10 years old, and has an IQ of 39. Derrick can say approximately 25 words, all which are hard to understand unless you are familiar with his language. He has hypotonia and fine motor difficulties, so he has a hard time manipulating small objects and holding onto pencils, pens, and other similar objects. Because of his fine motor difficulties, his writing is slow and hard to read. As far as academic knowledge, Derrick can read a small amount of names and words and he knows numbers one through ten. Due to the fine motor difficulties and lower academic knowledge, Derrick could show significant improvements by using assistive technology. Derrick could be able to utilize technology similar to iPad software or computer programs to assist dysgraphia. This could help him be able to more legibly complete assignments and learn new material without having to hold or pick through small objects like pencils and paper. The AT would need to improve Derrick`s independence, self-sufficiency, personal choice, participation, inclusion, and dignity (Dell, 2008). Assistive technology is defined as “Any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional
The age of the participants varied from 6-8. Each participant was chosen from the Down syndrome association. The eligibility requirements asked that the child had not yet acquired the concepts of counting and cardinality. Children with severe behavioral problems or extreme health issues were not considered for the