Marissa Jock

Disability
Fragile X syndrome is one of the most common inherited intellectual disability. It also is
a genetic condition that causes problems including learning disabilities and cognitive
impairment. Males tend to be more affected than females. This syndrome is also associated with
other comorbidities. Comorbidities involved with fragile x that impair functioning and adaptive
behavior.
Some of the physical characteristics to this disorder in males are that they tend to have
bigger testicles than a man without disabilities would have. Also, they tend to have bigger
foreheads and big ears. Another thing they may have is low muscle tone. Along with loose joints.
Both men and women with the disorder tend to have anxiety, shyness, ADHD and aggression.
Also, people affected by the fragile x disorder they may have intellectual disabilities, learning
difficulties, and developmental delays. Some other things they may have are speech difficulties
and communication difficulties. Also, they have difficulty with their coordination and their fine
and gross motor skills.
This disability not only affects the person with the disorder but others around them. It
affects the parents, family, caregivers and even workers that take that person out and bring them
places. The one affected by fragile x dont understand most things. For instance I have a cousin
affected by this and he has anger outburst out of the blue. Nobody can really understand why it
happens but it just does. Once it is done he realizes that he has destroyed things and will
apologize to his parents. When he has his outbursts he becomes destructive. This causes a lot of
stress on the parents because they have to replace and fix things that he damages. It causes
emotional and financial stress but they are never a burden on a family. As for the workers they
go and take a person out with the disorder and bring them places. For instance, some may bring
them to stores. When a person has fragile X and they get something they want on their mind they
do not forget that. When they want something in a store they may take off and go and look for
what they want. Therefore when the person with the disorder takes off it causes stress on the
worker. They may begin to be frantic because they may not see the person with the disorder so
they begin to be worried as to where they have gone.
 Fragile X is not a very common disorder. Not many people in the United States are
educated on this disorder. Some people have never even heard of it. The people with the disorder
cant ever live alone. They are incapable of taking care of themselves. They may know the basics
but not the essentials. For instance, they cant understand the concept of paying bills on time,
heat and driving. Fragile X is a rare but informational disorder.

Family
To help support the parents of children with the fragile x syndrome I would help them
find a place that allows children like him/her to go and just play and a place where they can be
themselves. This would help the family because at this place it will allow their child to be
themselves. By allowing the child to be themselves it may make the family happy by seeing the
child enjoy herself/himself. Also, I would recommend financial services such as wic and heap to
help the family financially. Most families with children who have a disability have financial
struggle. Therefore, I would give them as much information as I can about places that give
financial assistance.

Curriculum
To provide education for children with fragile x syndrome you need to consider the
anxiety level of that child when you are making seating arrangements. The child with the
disability needs to be placed away from any heating/ac vents and away from doorways. Also,
you should not seat the child with the disorder in a middle of a group. When asking the child
with the disability to do something you need to allow that child time to answer. If that child still
struggles with the question provide an alternative way for the child to answer instead of verbally
answering. When doing activities as a teacher you need to provide closure and allow completion
for an activity or lesson. Another thing when teaching a child with the disability you need to
provide that child with a visual schedule and stick to that schedule. If you do not stick to a
routine schedule you can cause the child to begin having anxiety.

Learning Environment and Adaption

Instructional Strategies
I would provide the child with one-on-one instructions when doing an activity. By doing
this it allows the child to comprehend what exactly they are supposed to be doing for the activity
or lesson. Also, provide the child with social skills, and social story lesson plans. Allow the child
time to answer things. Give the child with the disability a chance to be involved and not feel
excluded from others.

Assessment
When observing the child with the fragile x syndrome I will watch the child interact with
other children during free play in the classroom. Also, I would create activities that involves the
child to use their abilities. I would observe the child doing the tasks and see where that child is
for a specific skill. I would also observe that child in how they act with other teachers.

Transition Plan
My plan to help the child transition to kindergarten would be gradually. I would have that
child go to the future classroom they will be placed in to take in the environment of that
classroom. I would allow that child to just sit and observe his/her surroundings. I would easily
transition the child. I would do a few hours a day with his/her new classmates and teachers until
they are ready to go full time.

Personal Reflection
I myself feel that more people should be aware of this disorder. Many people have no
clue what fragile x syndrome is when I explain that my cousin has it. They have never heard of
it before. I myself find this disorder interesting. I feel this way because the way my cousin
interacts with us all is different but amazing. He may not be able to form most words but most
words come out clear as day even if he has a mentality of a 5 year old at the age of 23.

Work Cited

Symons, F. J., Clark, R. D., Hatton, D. D., Skinner, M., & Bailey, D. B. (2003).
Self-injurious behavior in young boys with fragile X syndrome. American Journal of Medical
Genetics, 118A(2), 115121. doi:10.1002/ajmg.a.10078

Hahn, L. J., Brady, N. C., Fleming, K. K., & Warren, S. F. (2016). Joint engagement and
early language in young children with fragile X syndrome. Journal of Speech Language and
Hearing Research, 59(5), 1087. doi:10.1044/2016_jslhr-l-15-0005

Vekeman, F., Gauthier-Loiselle, M., Faust, E., Lefebvre, P., Lahoz, R., Duh, M. S., &
Sacco, P. (2015). Patient and caregiver burden associated with fragile X syndrome in the United
States. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 120(5), 444459.
doi:10.1352/1944-7558-120.5.444

Educational Guidelines for Fragile X Syndrome: General. (2012, August). Washington,