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 “All About Me”
Jonah Hawter
My name is Jonah. I
am six years old. I
look like any other boy my age but Mom thinks I am cuter and have
lots of charm. In many ways I am just like everybody else.
Sometimes I don’t act like everyone else.
I may at times do or say things that are very unusual.
I sometimes have a hard time with communication and social
interaction. This is
because I have a condition called Autism.
Autism is a lifelong
developmental disability and neurological disorder that limits my
ability to process and understand the world around me.
This disorder affects my speech, learning, and social development.
Because of my disorder, I may act differently or say odd
things and I may even make strange noises or even act as if I don’t
see or hear you.
I want to be included like everyone else and experience life as everyone
else does. I want to
have friends and have fun!
Mom wants me to be educated, have a career and maybe get
married someday and have my own family.
I am presently attending Wyomina Park Elementary School and I am
full included in Mrs. Barberie’s Kindergarten classroom.
I love school and get along great with my peers.
Mrs. Barberie thinks I am smart and I am treated just like
everyone else in class.
Here is some helpful information about me to all my teachers and
people who have not yet met me.
Abilities
I am very visually perceptive and like to write and draw.
My memory, especially my rote or long term memory, is very
detailed and accurate. I
pay attention to detail and attempt to do things perfectly.
I work hard at anything I do.
I can tie my shoes and count to one-hundred.
I can dress myself, brush my teeth, and bathe myself.
I am learning to clean my own room.
Mom rewards me with movies and new Yugi-Oh cards if I behave
and do good work daily. I
understand when I am not behaving and know when I need a “timeout”.
I love praise and have a sense of accomplishment when I learn
something new.
Likes
I love movies, all kinds of Disney ones. I also love the Powerpuff Girls, even though I am a boy.
I love Yugi-Oh cards and dueling with my friends.
I am very interested in science, especially the solar system.
I like numbers and geometrical shapes.
I also love maps and globes and I can point to exactly where
Florida is. I like
trains, especially Thomas the Tank Engine and building tracks in
my room. I love music
and singing. I am a
good artist and love to draw on my magna doodle. I also like to be read to and all kinds of books.
I love to be hugged and tickled!!
Dislikes
Loud unexpected noises can sometimes make me have a screaming “fit”.
New information and situations and any change in routine
is hard for me to adjust to initially.
I may act strangely until I am comfortable with a new skill
and new people. I also
have difficulty sitting still and focusing.
I can get very frustrated when I can’t accomplish something
that I want to do or learn.
Sometimes having a lot of people and activity around me can
make me want to retreat and be by myself.
I am learning to follow directions and sometimes it is helpful
to repeat what I am supposed to be doing several times.
I am not intentionally ignoring you or acting out.
I just don’t always know how to express myself and to ask
for help. Verbal instructions
can be hard for me. Pictures
and showing me how to do something is easiest for me.
Once I understand what is expected of me in any situation,
I can learn quickly.
I hope we can be friends and if you have any other questions please
call my Mom.
Pamela Veith
352-861-8350 or 352-207-5163
(Written for Jonah
by his Mom -- Pamela Veith)
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