Benjamin's Website
Benefit4Ben.com
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Ben Photos and Facts:
* Ben was born at St. Joe's Hospital in Denver in March of 2000
* Ben was born with Down syndrome, cataracts, enlarged kidneys, 2 holes in his heart, low muscle tone, an extra thumb, & hypothyroidism.
* Ben had eye surgery, soon after his birth, to remove the cataracts. He than wore contact lenses for 5 years, before having surgery to implant lenses on each eye.
* Ben didn't sit up until he was 1 year and 9 mos old.
* Ben began to walk independantly when he was 2 mos. shy of his 5th birthday (he commando crawled all over the place before that.)
* When Ben was 3 he had emergency adenoid/tonsilectomy because he only had 1/8" opening in his throat when he slept at night. Dr's believed we saved his life!
* Ben is nonverbal, but at the end of 2nd grade the school started teaching him the PECs system. Which is Picture Exchange Communication. Before that I remember that he'd sit down by the refriderator and then we figured out he wanted milk. Then he'd pull our hand to fridge, then he'd use a "big mac" which he touched, but had voice output and said "milk". Then, in teaching him PECs he learned the picture for milk and brought us the picture.
* In early 3rd grade we got Ben a SpringBoard Lite, which is an augmentative communication device. He uses pictures with voice output to communicate with us. He has totally taken off with it. I think it's helped him communicate more than just wants or needs, but just with us. Ben still pulls our hand or pushes us around to the things he wants, but when we get there, he has to "tell us what you want, Ben." And he does!
* Now Ben will be going to The Joshua School, where we hope that they will get his negotive behavior under control along with helping him to have conversation and learn what others at his level should be learning. We are so excited about the opportunity!
* Ben was born at St. Joe's Hospital in Denver in March of 2000
* Ben was born with Down syndrome, cataracts, enlarged kidneys, 2 holes in his heart, low muscle tone, an extra thumb, & hypothyroidism.
* Ben had eye surgery, soon after his birth, to remove the cataracts. He than wore contact lenses for 5 years, before having surgery to implant lenses on each eye.
* Ben didn't sit up until he was 1 year and 9 mos old.
* Ben began to walk independantly when he was 2 mos. shy of his 5th birthday (he commando crawled all over the place before that.)
* When Ben was 3 he had emergency adenoid/tonsilectomy because he only had 1/8" opening in his throat when he slept at night. Dr's believed we saved his life!
* Ben is nonverbal, but at the end of 2nd grade the school started teaching him the PECs system. Which is Picture Exchange Communication. Before that I remember that he'd sit down by the refriderator and then we figured out he wanted milk. Then he'd pull our hand to fridge, then he'd use a "big mac" which he touched, but had voice output and said "milk". Then, in teaching him PECs he learned the picture for milk and brought us the picture.
* In early 3rd grade we got Ben a SpringBoard Lite, which is an augmentative communication device. He uses pictures with voice output to communicate with us. He has totally taken off with it. I think it's helped him communicate more than just wants or needs, but just with us. Ben still pulls our hand or pushes us around to the things he wants, but when we get there, he has to "tell us what you want, Ben." And he does!
* Now Ben will be going to The Joshua School, where we hope that they will get his negotive behavior under control along with helping him to have conversation and learn what others at his level should be learning. We are so excited about the opportunity!
Stillwater camp ground. Checking out the scenery with Dad. (Right) Ben helping retrieve a kite @ Puma Park.
Ben (below) sitting among the tulips at age 2. (Right) Westland Park sprayground.
(2 below) Dec. 2009 pix of Dan and Ben sledding...we all have fun!
(2 below) Dec. 2009 pix of Dan and Ben sledding...we all have fun!
