ABSTRACT
Mrs. Nguyen has a challenging new student in her middle school physical education program. Brooke MacDonald has Rett syndrome, a rare, genetic form of autism that occurs only in girls. Mrs. Nguyen did a quick online search and found out that Rett syndrome leads to severe impairments, affecting nearly every aspect of the child’s life including the ability to speak, walk, and eat. Mrs. Nguyen also learned that the hallmark of Rett syndrome is near constant repetitive hand movements. Mrs. Nguyen has many concerns regarding Brook participating in general physical education, including how she will be able to participate when she does not use her hands functionally, how she will be able to participate safely, and how she will fit in socially with her peers. The focus of this case is on how Mrs. Nguyen will work with specialists to help her learn how to create an appropriate program for Brooke.
