Improving Mobility and Locomotive Skills for a 9-Year-Old with Visual Impairment: An IEP Plan

Abstract

Instructor’s Name Demographics Visual Impairment (Total Blindness)- Locomotive Skills (Walking and Running). Students Name: Billy Fred CA:9years Old. Date; 28th Sept 2022. Classification: Deficiency in locomotive skills (Walking and Running) Present Level of Performance. Locomotive skills are essential to every child, allowing them to move from one space to another and preparing them to handle complex activities for the future. Some locomotive skills include jumping, galloping, sliding, skipping, leaping, and hopping. Based on the assessment of the locomotive skills, Fred Billy has impairment in walking and running locomotive skills. Running and walking are the most physical components that promote the locomotive abilities of a person. The tools used for identification and assessment include; physical assessment through physical therapy, observation, and medical practitioners. The present level of performance after identification and assessment shows that; The child has difficulty raising both arms, Physical impairments of the upper and lower limbs, Joint pains, and tremors. The child has difficulty running and walking. Billy has a slower gait velocity, shorter stride length, Cautious walking, and Jerks in walking. Longitudinal deficiencies and prolonged stance duration, he could not walk even one stride in a second. A deficit in balance and gait variability. The child also has difficulty in gait acquisition, posture problems (Billy is slightly bent) and Generally poor motor performance. The plan includes checks on pain in joints, arms, and impairments of limbs by a medical practitioner. Billy seeks therapy to check on bone alignment and the possible causes of the problems. One could easily see that Billy had difficulty walking and running through physical examination. Billy's posture and balance deficiencies make it difficult for him to walk and run. Billy’s performance is below average. He cannot even walk 100m comfortably. An average nine-year-old walks up to 1.5 miles a day. Children at nine years can lift bars and move comfortably and swiftly. Billy's case is below average compared to a typical nine-year-old. Billy has strengths in making strides with minimal support. He depicts a need to follow instructions and, therefore, is willing to learn. Billy’s progress is below average and needs a lot of attention. His locomotive disabilities hinder him from performing at his grade level, especially in recreational activities and academic performance. Billy needs individualized instruction in his locomotive impairment. He needs to develop flexibility in his arms and upper and lower limbs. He must also increase the stride length and move swiftly without anyone monitoring him. He needs a lot of exercises to solve his posture problems. Billy is slow and needs exercise that will trigger his locomotive performance. He also admits that he has a problem and identifies himself with locomotive issues. Annual Goals Annual Goal #1- ensure that Billy can walk normally without difficulty. By waking at least 1 mile without any difficulty. Annual Goal #2- Ensure that Billy can at least run for 1.5 miles without difficulty in one hour. Annual Goal#3- Ensure Billy is physically fit and that he can perform locomotive functions with no supervision. Short-term Objectives Short-term Objective...