Other Special Needs

Severely impaired condition, polymalformative syndrome: Dandy-Walker syndrome, epilepsy, congenital hydrocephalus-ventriculoperitoneal shunt installed, dysfunction of the valve with a neuroinfection and a surgical treatment and revision of the valve system in the spring of 2015; anal atresia, sigmostoma and sagittal proctoplasty; mylticystic right kidney, kidney dysplasia, pyelectasis and hypertrophy of the left kidney, severe mental delay.

Connor is being raised in one of the biggest orphanages in Bulgaria where children often suffer from severe malnutrition, muscle hypotrophy and have severe delays in the neuropsychological development. He has a polymalformative syndrome, but one could see a dramatic change in his appearance in just two pictures- the first one taken in the end of November 2014 and the second one in June 2015.

He grabs a toy that is handed to him, holds it for a while and manipulates with it. He has started to more and more often reach with his hands and manipulate with hanging toys independently.

While involved in active interactions with adults, he would make his emotional responses known with his nonverbal behavior. He seeks contact with familiar adults by reaching out his hand, grabbing an adult’s hand and he would even sometimes direct an adult’s hand towards his face so as to be caressed.

He falls asleep easily and his sleep is calm. He is fed with a bottle. He gets anxious while his clothes are changed and while bathed.

Jonas is on several medications.  Jonas’s motor activity completely corresponds to the expected developmental level for his calendar age.  Although his fine motor skills need to improve further, Jonas is able to hold a pencil properly. He can inlay elements with some guidance. He puts cubes one on top of the other. He threads colored rings on a fixed stand, but not yet in accordance with their size.

There are some difficulties in attracting and keeping his attention focused. Jonas plays for a longer period of time whenever he is interested in the respective activity. Jonas orientates well in a familiar environment. He distinguishes between day and night based on his everyday routines – sleeping, meal times, rest. He recognizes the neighborhood around the foster family’s home.

Jonas is reported to have achieved noticeable progress in terms of expressing his emotions and feelings, which are becoming more diverse. He reacts appropriately to smiles and angry faces and also to the tone of voice one talks to him with. He demonstrates his love, attachment and attention for others. He greatly enjoys it when others play with him. Jonas has attached to all members of the foster family.

Clifton lives with a foster family.  He loves to listen to music and dance and is always looking for a dancing partner! His foster family is working on him walking longer distances independently.  He is learning how to play with toys and interact appropriately with other children.  He has few words and does not follow verbal directions.  Clifton is receiving therapy multiple times a week.

Clifton’s gross motor skills are well-developed – he moves around independently, even at long distances, and he has no difficulties walking on different surfaces. He can now run (since the beginning of January 2017). The deficits noted previously in Clifton’s fine motor skills have been compensated to a great extent. He can transfer small elements with a spoon from one bowl into another with an adult’s assistance, he plays with certain materials and toys, he clips and unclips clothes pegs, he looks for an object hidden in the sand and he takes it out with great interest. He holds a pencil and leaves pale traces with it on a sheet of paper. He does great eating with a spoon. Clifton accepts the toothbrush and allows for his teeth to be brushed.

It happens more and more rarely for Clifton to demonstrate anxiety in response to being introduced to unfamiliar places and people. The stereotypic movements he demonstrates when someone initiates interactions with him have decreased significantly. He imitates actions he has observed more often and more successfully than before. Clifton becomes lively and starts dancing whenever someone is singing or plays music.

Clifton is  calm in his new foster family, he often smiles and he laughs aloud while playing with an adult (or with the girls in the foster family). He is especially attached to the foster father and the younger daughter in the family. Clifton has become a lot more sociable in the last 6 months: he seeks children’s attention, initiates interactions, accepts unfamiliar people a lot easier, maintains a smaller distance between himself and others and makes eye contact.

Although Clifton has poor passive vocabulary, he follows simple instructions provided that those are accompanied by nonverbal means of communication. His speech development is at the level of producing chains of syllables. He uses “No” appropriately so as to express his disagreement, he sometimes uses “Yes” and “Give me”. Clifton initiates physical and emotional contact with his foster parents and their children as well as with the specialists working with him. He is especially attached to the foster father and the youngest daughter in the foster family. His interactions with other children have changed significantly – he plays with them for a long time and he is making attempts to cooperate with them.

More photos/file are available from his agency

Norton is a boy who lives with a foster family in Eastern Europe. He loves to play with other children and particularly likes to play with musical toys and cars. He also likes to paint using watercolor paints. He manages to play games for a long time, and he likes to help around the household.

Norton is in good health and is stronger than typical of his age. He can independently move larger items, including furniture. He loves to run and jump, and he knows how to roll over forward and squeeze in narrower spaces. Like many little boys, Norton brushes his teeth twice a day. He can tell others when he needs to go to the restroom, and he eats with great appetite. He naps for two hours in the afternoon and sleeps peacefully at night.

His short-term and long-term memories function at a good level, and Noah can easily remember things related to the lifestyle, as well as past events related to pleasant or unpleasant memories.

Although he has been diagnosed with hyperactive disorder, mild mental disability and a speech delay, Norton has shown progress in his development. He understands everything that is required of him, executing commands correctly. He is persistent in his demands, but he understands when he has violated rules, and he does not oppose correction.

Norton chatters a lot, but he is incomprehensible. He repeats syllables he hears, and he uses gestures to help him communicate with others and make them clearly understand what he wants or wants to do. Norton is working with therapists to improve his speech abilities.

Paddy can turn over on his own, and sits independently. He will walk holding hands or using a walker, but does not like to walk over uneven surfaces. He likes musical toys and has recently started imitating simple actions like a ring stacker. Paddy likes to interact with familiar adults and may pout when they leave. He eats mashed food and drinks from a cup.

Update from a family that met him in 2015: Paddy is a truly beautiful boy! He does have some behaviors, shrieking and flapping for the majority of the time we observed him. He did not make eye contact with us or the staff. We asked the staff about his medical information and they stated that he did not need regular transfusions, but did have a seizure disorder. A family that is prepared to deal with autistic like behaviors would be ideal!

Update Jan 2017: Delaney is a beautiful, sweet, calm girl. She likes to be hugged and held. She likes it when someone takes care of her and to be outside, with her stroller and recognizes the people that take care of her. She feels most comfortable in her bed and during her walks with the stroller in the garden. She eats and sleeps well.

Delaney expresses her preferences to people and objects to which she is more attached. She has three favorite toys that are colorful and soft. She also enjoys listening to music especially children’s songs. She doesn’t like lying on her back and sudden and quick movements. She is able to sit independently and grab and hold objects she has very strong hands she uses well. She feels comfortable when around her there are people with who she is familiar with.

Delaney is able to express her opinion and preference with gestures. Delaney is very calm child with big potential for improvement with the needed care, attention and the feeling of the real family environment.

As of June 2013: Bentley is mostly passive, his muscles are weak. He can not sit, stand or walk on his own. He does not like to have a close contact with a person, cries when is picked up. Bentley likes to sit in a special chair and rock. Sometimes the boy pronounces accidental sounds. Does not picks up yet toys in to his hands, when is talked to – does not react. Sometimes when he sits alone it was observed that he started to smile. He needs help while eating and drinking. Child’s motor development is delayed, compared to his age.

An echo-cardiogram and electrocardiogram performed showed ebstein anomaly (Horner Syndrome), moderated apical interventricular communication. He doesn’t require surgical treatment based on electrocardiogram results; he requires biannual follow up with both echo-cardiogram and electrocardiogram. It is possible that as an adult he will probably require tricuspid valve replacement.  Pablo doesn’t show signs of recent or past of physical abuse.

Adeline is communicative with children and adults. She answers questions. Her expressive and impressive speech is developing. She follows verbal directions. She demonstrates a desire for emotional closeness. She willingly interacts with children and adults. She has established friendly relationships with her classmates. She loves listening music and dancing, as well as, drawing and coloring. She has delays in academics and receives support from a resource teacher at school.

Summer is quiet, friendly and always smiles when she is seen by an adult. She almost eats without help – but she eats slowly. She almost goes up and down the stairway by herself. She does not want to always participate in all activities and needs extra motivation. She expresses her feelings with mimics and movements. She has started to speak and pronounces some words. Summer loves music, reading, books and swinging on the horse.

She wants adult’s attention and likes to lean on an adult, sit in their lap, and give hugs. Her fine and gross motors skills development are adequate. She is friendly with adults and children.

Most of the time, Caryn is calm, especially when she is in the playroom. When somebody pays attention to her, she laughs loudly. Caryn totally depends on the care of others. She sleeps peacefully and stays calm when getting dressed and bathing. She has cerebral palsy and needs specific care, though she has no severe deficit in terms of physical activity.

From a teacher who works with her: This little blind girl is progressing so well, but she is so scared. Can you imagine to be in a world where at any given moment you could get pinched, pushed over, knocked down, hair pulled, eyes poked. I don’t blame her, especially when there are so many other special needs children around her and so few staff and no family love and care. But inspite of all of this she is a fighter and a giggler.

Gabi is physically healthy with normal physical development. She is radiant and very active.

Gabi responds adequately to praise and punishment. Gabi establishes and maintains eye contact. She seeks the attention of the people around and she seeks familiar people and their closeness purposefully.

Gabi understands the meaning of words that are often used in her surroundings. She expresses her needs and wishes through vocalization.

In her spare time Gabi likes watching TV, playing on a phone, listening to music and going out for walks.

He has been living with a foster family since 2013.

He has a systolic murmur along the precordium; hyperkinetic conduct disorder and a mild mental delay. The child started walking on time, but his speech is underdeveloped. The child cannot stay focused for a long time while playing. He understands and follows simple instructions.

The agency has current medical reports available for serious inquiries.

UPDATE March 2017:   previous Diagnosis of Atypical autism that was changed to hyperkinetic disorder, very interested in motor activities. Responds to positive interactions and praise from familiar adults, but can become anxious in new situations or if a familiar caregiver is not around. He seeks comfort from familiar adults and can become sad if one leaves.

*Abner’s social worker reported that according to the specialists, supervising Abner’s condition and development, the diagnosis of atypical autism is no longer valid and it will be deleted from Abner’s formal paperwork that is to be updated in the following months

Abner likes to keep himself busy exploring! His favorite activities are the ones that include movement, such as going for a walk. He very much likes to spend time looking through books. He also likes all musical instruments and toys that play melodies and sounds. His favorite toy is a children’s laptop that plays songs. When he hears a melody he tries to dance.

There has been a progress in Abner’s speech development as he has started using a lot of words. He now forms sentences containing 3-4 words, albeit dyslexia is observed.

Gary is currently living in a group home for children with special needs. He can move around the group home in a gait trainer. Due to his low tone, he can not sit or stand independently. He can roll from back to stomach. He can hold a toy and will manipulate it, though he does not always understand the purpose of the toy. He enjoys interacting with adults and will smile and demonstrate appropriate emotions when engaged in activities.

Malory is a beautiful, giggly girl who lives with a foster family in Eastern Europe. With a contagious smile and laughter, Malory runs, climbs and could be described as an active child. She enjoys the extra attention she receives from her foster parents. She is physically healthy, and she eats well. Her weight and height are catching up with the standards for her age.

Malory has some developmental delays that her caregivers attribute to early neglect and lack of stimulation. She has difficulty pronouncing some words, and her learning is below the norm for her age. Malory understands everything her elders say. She cannot talk yet, but she can pronounce separate words and sounds. She knows her name and the people’s names living around her. She plays with the other kids from the group, and she prefers more dynamic games.

Malory gets one-on-one instruction in each subject, participating in different programs – therapeutic, musical and rehabilitation. She is much calmer then she was before, and she respects the authority of the foster family.

Additional videos are available from her agency.

Vassilio can hold objects in both hands and his vocabulary consists of about 10-15 words. He understands verbal instructions and follows them. Vassilio likes to listen to music, dance and watch puppet shows. He likes to communicate with adults and children and likes to be hugged and touched. Vassilio can put small bites of food in his mouth and can drink out of a cup. He cannot dress or undress himself. The agency has additional information and photos.

Brendan is an adorable little boy. He was born prematurely with a generalized systemic immaturity. He spent his first four months in an incubator, where he was diagnosed with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia and Hydrocephalus caused by Periventricular Leukomalacia. Due to prolonged incubation, he currently has vocal chord paralysis. He has delays in his gross and fine motor skills according to his age; however, he is able to search with his eyes for visual and aural stimuli, can open and look at his hands, and is able to hold objects in his hands. He is usually active, awake and aware of his surroundings, and with therapy will be able to continue to develop gross and fine motor skills.

This sweet boy deserves a loving family who can provide him with care and support as he continues to grow and progress.