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To inquire about this child, email childinquiry@reecesrainbow.org ***
At the time she came into care, Ariel was referred to physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy due to her developmental needs in cognition, speech, social skills and fine motor skills. She was subsequently placed in a special school having been diagnosed with mild intellectual disability in November 2021, and she stayed in that school until June 2023. These measures helped her improve significantly, especially in the area of behavioral tendencies such as being fidgety, having outbursts and being jumpy. In fact, when her foster family moved and she started a new school in June 2023, she adjusted well and her teachers now say she is an above-average student, earning As and Bs in all her grades. While Ariel did have significant improvements in all her developmental areas, she still has some delays in each area. Physically, she can do everything she should, but she is slow when it comes to climbing and needs a handrail to go up and down stairs. She can ride a scooter, but at 11 years old, she still cannot ride a bike. She is able to take care of herself, and can write, draw and do crafts, but she does tend to make mistakes in her Chinese writing. She also tends to eat with a fork or spoon as she does not have the dexterity to use chopsticks effectively. She is also a quiet child who communicates in simple sentences and generally only speaks when spoken to, but she is able to express herself and carry conversations. Ariel does have visual diagnoses of amblyopia, hypermetropia and astigmatism for which she wears glasses and must attend follow-up appointments every six months.
While Ariel was suspected of having autism in 2021 and ADHD in 2023, after attending psychiatric appointments the diagnosis of ADHD was dismissed. The agency is inquiring if she was, in fact, diagnosed with autism as the paperwork is not clear on this matter.
Ariel is a quiet and cheerful girl who is well-attached to her foster family and enjoys going on outings with them. She is helpful in class and enjoys assisting her teacher with various tasks. She is introverted and tends to either play by herself with her special doll or other stuffed toys, or when she does play with others, it is usually with the other foster girl in her home. She enjoys watching videos or playing at the park.
Ariel will benefit from a family who can accept and help her with her mild intellectual disability and social skills challenges. Given her gentle temperament and cheerful nature, she would benefit from a warm, nurturing and stimulating environment where she can continue to receive therapy and receive special education.
