About
Me
I have put this book together with the
help of my friends and family but I hope that as time passes
everyone who knows me will have something to add to it. If you
have anything you would like to add, or if there is anything
else you think would be useful to have included, could you please
phone my Mum or Dad.
Stephen
by Stephen Reid
About Me
This book has been written to help you get to know me. I was born
in the Southern General Hospital on Friday 19th February
1993. I have two older brothers, Michael & Gavin, who are twins
and a year older than me. I have two Grandmas, two Aunties and one
Uncle. Gran Taylor, Grandma Reid, Auntie Gilly and Auntie Linda
all live near us in Glasgow. Uncle Jonathan lives in Boston in America. Michael,
Gavin and I are the only children in the family and that means we
are spoiled rotten tee! hee! hee! When we are at school we live
at 2 BXXXX Drive with our cat Reggie. Reggie is orange and white
and has three legs - he did not look both ways before he crossed
the road.
We have a tree house and large trampoline in our garden and we usually have
lots of friends round to play. When we are on holiday from school we live
in our holiday house in Millport on the Isle of Cumbrae. You can see the beach
and the sea from our front window and even when it is not sunny the water is
really cool to look at and play in.
I tend to use a PECS* book to talk to you because I find it easier than
using verbal language. This does not mean that I cannot speak, I just decide
for myself when I want to. I understand gesture, body language and tone of
voice very well. I also understand verbal instructions if they are given clearly
and concisely by someone who has ensured they have my attention.
Glossary of terms
PECS ‘Picture Exchange Communication System’
I have a book with lots of pictures of things I like to do and things
I might want to ask for. When I want something I have to select the ‘I
want’ symbol and a picture of what I want, stick both on a sentence
strip. I then hand the sentence strip to the person I want to help
me.If I want help to get the thing or do the thing I also attach
the help card. Some people also use the PECS book to talk to me if
I don’t understand what they want me to do or if they want me to
make a choice about something.
Green Foods
These are the foods that Mum and Dad have discovered I am not
reacting to just now. this does not mean that they are always OK for me
to eat. I become intolerant to things I eat a lot and also I can only tolerate
some of the foods in moderation.
Red Foods
These are things that give me tummy ache; make me silly;
turn me in to a ‘whirling dervish’ or make me sick and itchy.
Spelt
A grain often used as an ingredient in processed foods.
My PECS Book
My Photo Album
 
 
 
 
 
Words people use to
describe me
happy, cuddly, funny, bendy, bossy, gorgeous, loveable,
energetic, bouncy, loving cute, mischievous
FUN!
Things I am good
at
Trampolining
Climbing
Balancing on high objects
Counting in
sequence
Giving cuddles
Making people
laugh
Making people do things for me
Giving kisses
Playing computer games
Working the video recorder
Cataloguing things
Throwing and catching
a ball
Finding water to play in
Filling and emptying
things
Sussing people out
Reading body
language
Spouting water from my mouth like a whale
Green Foods
Walker’s Ready Salted Crisps Bottled
Water
Special Bread made by Mum Bananas
(occasionally)
Soya Yoghurt (occasionally) Carob
Bars
Strawberries (occasionally) Homemade
biscuits
Speciality biscuits Pears
Apple juice (occasionally) Speciality
crackers
Pineapple juice (occasionally) Peaches
Unflavoured popcorn Pineapple pieces
Starburst Joosters Mango
Chicken Rice
Plain potatoes Ibuprofen
Popadoms Melon
Red Foods*
Anything containing gluten (wheat,
rye oats, spelt*)
Anything containing milk or lactose
(milk, yoghurt, cheese, butter, milk chocolate, most
margarine, many processed foods)
Tuna Chocolate
Fizzy Pop Most
confectionary
Anything ‘diet’ Gravy
Most processed food Pasta
Fish fingers Chicken
nuggets
Chips Pizza
Coleslaw Mayonnaise
Happy Faces Baked
beans
Soup Jelly
Ice cream Some glues
Playdoh Blue tack
Plasticine Paracetamol
Things I like
Bouncing on a trampoline Watching videos
Playing games on the computer Satin fabrics
Playing with water Reading books
Feeling the wind in my face Getting tickled
Rough & Tumble games Making music
Going fast in the car Walking
Throwing stones into the water Dancing
Going to the swimming pool Soft play areas
Going to the pictures Playing on swings
Sliding down chutes Eating & drinking
Doing anything I’m not Boys Brigade
meant to
Getting a head massage Bubble makers
Playing on the Playstation Lego
Fairground rides Fast roller coasters
Roundabouts Ferries
Standing at the top of the
climbing frame
Things people say about me
‘Those eyelashes are wasted on a boy!’
‘How does he manage to bounce like that on the trampoline?’
‘He makes me laugh’
‘If I tried to stand up there I would fall off!’
‘He’s always so happy’
‘He’s so neat and tidy – he can stay with me any time’
‘He’s so flexible – I bet he would be great at Yoga’
‘He makes me smile every time I see him’
‘He brings out the best in me’
‘He challenges my preconceptions’
‘He makes me think’
‘He makes me see things differently’
‘He’s such a nice boy’
‘He’s a little minx’
‘He’s a typical wee boy’
‘He’s a silent comedian’
It would really help me if
you could…….
Remind me to go to the toilet at regular intervals through the day.
If I am very involved in what I am doing I will leave it until the last possible minute.
Remind me to wash and dry my hands after I go to the toilet.
Although I know to do this I don’t really see why it is so important.
Supervise me when I am in the toilet area.
I am full of mischief and love playing
with water. I especially like watching water cascading out of an
overflowing sink and will indulge this pleasure when given
the opportunity to do so.
Remind me of the purpose of sitting in the dining room at lunchtime.
Although I love food, I also love watching
the world go by and often become
so absorbed in watching everyone else
I forget that I am there to have lunch.
Supervise me closely when I am getting changed for PE.
I am able to change myself but have
problems coordinating small
buttons and hooks. I am however quite
lazy and would much rather have someone else to wait
on me hand and foot.
It would really help me if you could…….
Make sure I only eat and drink what my Mum and
Dad supply (or what is on my green food list).
Foods containing Gluten or Casein turn
me into a ‘whirling dervish’.
Help me identify the dangers within my environment. Sometimes my
inquisitive nature gets the better of me and I will disregard even
obvious dangers in my quest for knowledge.
If I see an interesting car on the other
side of the road, I will go to investigate without checking to
see if it is safe to cross.
Let me know what my plan for the day is and give me advance notice
that things are about to change.
My visual timetable lets me know what
I am going to be doing throughout the day. If I am prompted to
remove the activity card a couple of minutes before we are moving
to a new activity I can get a handle on it.
Give me time to observe new activities from a safe distance for
a whileand then let me join in when I am ready.
My main way of learning is watching
others and then copying their role modelling. Once I have sussed
out the situation and am sure I know what is
expected of me I will become an eager participant.
Make sure my PECS book is always available to me and remind me to
take it with me.
If I cannot explain what is wrong I
become very frightened and frustrated. I feel like I have no control.
Things I do for others
Family:
He makes me a better person and a better parent
(Jaqui, Mum)
He helps me to appreciate all of my children’s gifts
(Martin, Dad)
He teaches us to do tricks on the trampoline
(Michael & Gavin,
brothers)
He keeps me young (Grandma Reid)
He makes me feel so loved (Gran Taylor)
Adults:
He has shown me a different side of all of the boys as he seems
to naturally bring out the best in all of them. (Elaine, BB leader)
He has challenged me to adapt and learn as a teacher and has taught
me to be a better teacher. (Nan, teacher)
Other Children:
He taught me to bounce on to my bottom and back up
on the trampoline (Greg S, friend)
He’s fun to play with (Greg M, friend)
He’s always full of energy and that makes him fun to
play with (Andrew, friend)
He lets me help him and that makes me feel good
(Neil,
BB)
These are a few
of my favourite things…………
Thomas the Tank Engine
Postman Pat
Winnie the Pooh Sing-a-long songs at full volume
Disney Videos – Satin fabric (comforter)
Eine Klein Nacht Musik
The Nutcracker Suite
S Club 7
Crash Bandicoot
Organic Cornflakes
Gluten free toast
Carob
Bottled water
Walker’s Ready salted Crisps
Gluten free biscuits
Remote control panels
The video controls
If I become distressed it would really help me if you could……
Make sure only one person approaches
me.
Lots of people confuse me and make
me more distressed.
Remain calm and speak
clearly.
My emotions will mirror yours.
Stay with me to support
me.
Your presence will make me feel safe.
Reassure me that things are OK and that I am safe.
I will be scared.
Help me get to somewhere peaceful as soon as I am able.
A quiet area helps me to regain my composure.
Stroke my arm or my head.
Physical contact has a calming effect on me.
Make soothing noises (e.g. shhhhh).
Soothing noises have a calming effect on me.
Find something I like for me to do once I am feeling better.
This allows me to refocus my energies positively.
Things that upset me
 Loud,
unexpected noises Sudden changes
Things that are squint Disorder
Foods I am intolerant to The unknown
Electrical equipment that doesn’t work
Water & things to Other children to
play with bounce with
But most of all …………
My trampoline
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