Download | Duration: 00:16:26

I've gone and done it!!! I've done a podcast entry instead of a blog. Too lazy to write, haha. I hope you enjoy the new format. More to come soon!
-----

This type of story would work well in classrooms with children with other disorders- Autism, Down Syndrome, etc. I wrote this 2 years ago when my son started Kindergarten. I believe I said in the podcast that it was to prep Cameron for school. It would have been better to say it was to prep his CLASSMATES.
Don't forget to listen to the podcast version for a more thorough explanation.



Cameron’s Story

Hello, my name is Cameron. I am 6 years old. I have Angelman Syndrome.  Not very many people have it- I was born with it.

Like many people, my brain and body work a little differently. I need help doing many things, so I have a helper in the classroom. I can not speak with words, but I am learning to communicate with pictures, sounds and gestures.  I may not speak back, but I really like it when other people talk to me.

I am learning how to stand, and how to walk.  I need a stroller or wheelchair to help me get around. I also wear braces on my legs to help me stand until my legs get stronger. 

I have a hard time eating with my mouth. A few years ago when I was growing very fast, I wasn’t able to eat enough food, so the doctors put a little button my belly to help me get my food. A grown-up uses a tube and a syringe to put food in my belly. Sometimes it tickles when it’s cold! The food is kind of like milk, but it has lots of vitamins added in, so I stay healthy.

Sometimes, I might sleep a lot in school. Since my brain works a bit different, I don’t have the same sleep schedule always as other children. Some days I may sleep a lot, and other days I may be awake all the time. I hope soon I can stay awake all day with everyone.

I really like people and playing. Sometimes people want to hold my hand, which I like. If I pull my hand away, it’s not because I don’t want you to touch it. It’s because when something touches my hand lightly, sometimes it feels icky. I am more sensitive than most people. I like when people touch my hand firmly. You can ask Mrs. Fairweather or Mrs. Peters how to firmly hold my hand, the way I like to.

Because my hands are very sensitive, I also have a hard time holding things. I need help holding things like pencils and using toys. Mrs. Fairweather helps me do this in the classroom.  I also appreciate your help. Sometimes my little sister at home will play with me and help me do things. Or she will bring me 2 toys that she knows I like, and she will hold them out and ask me to choose which one I would like to play with. Then I will reach for the one I would like. You can do that too.

I may be different, but I am the same as everyone else in other ways.  I love my little sisters, Mommy and Daddy very much. I really like doing things like reading books, playing with paints, watching movies, listening to music, swinging, playing with sand, and other fun stuff. I like to learn and play, like everyone else. I really like to have friends. One of my favorite things to do is laugh- I’m very good at it!

If you have any questions about me you can ask Mrs. Peters, Mrs. Fairweather or my Mom. I look forward to getting to know all of you!

Cameron