Christina is a grade 8 student with an exceptionality, and after years of progressing with difficulty, she now performs at a grade 4/5 level in both reading and mathematics. Christina however has difficulties with creative writing, and despite having been provided with assistive technology, continues to struggle. She has had a very positive experience this year in an inclusive classroom as a result of attempts to mitigate her behavioural outbursts, and all parties in her educational network wish her the same success in her transition to a new school for grade 9.
Christina has repeatedly scored on the Wechsler scale in a range indicating the possibility of a mild developmental disability (borderline/low average, IQ≈80), however these psychometric assessments are insufficient in identifying an exceptionality. Differentiated instruction through the use of an EA for mathematics and as a reader for kindergarten students appears to have been responsible for the significant gains in these areas, and the repetitive nature of these tasks has likely benefitted her as well. Christina’s disabled left arm has been suggested as a reason she may have trouble succeeding with creative writing even with differentiation, however it is possible that this is instead a symptom of a larger issue. Her left-sided disability may indicate damage to the right hemisphere of the brain, thereby hampering her creative and emotional identity but not her ability in spoken language or calculations. Damage to the right hemisphere could also be used to explain the perseveration of socially inappropriate behaviours observed.
Christina likely suffers from a mild developmental disability as a result of a brain injury, and this is manifested as a below average IQ, delayed progression through developmental stages, and difficulty adjusting to social situations. Despite this, Christina has shown significant progress with differentiated instruction in reading and mathematics, and has adjusted well to social norms due to her inclusion in a regular classroom.
