Introduction to Franco Franco is a four and a half year old Latino cisgender male in the Early Childhood Education program at Beach Court Elementary School in Denver. (Early Childhood Education, also known as “ECE” is what Denver Public Schools call pre-school or pre-kindergarten) He is very small, short and young looking for his age, to the point that when I first met him I thought he was too young to be my client and assumed he was the younger sibling of someone else. Franco is well groomed, always smells of clean laundry and is often wearing blue jeans, Spiderman Velcro sneakers and his blue Beach Court Elementary School polo shirt or a blue sweater. Franco is very quiet at first but very polite and always says “hi” and waves to anyone
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During his outbursts his mother said “it is hard for him to communicate and he gets so frustrated.” Franco’s mother explained that Franco received cochlear implants at the age of 2 and as a result, his speech and hearing is significantly delayed. Franco and his same age cousin are in the same class, and Franco’s mother explained to me that “Franco is not fluent.” If she asks Franco what happened at school that day he will answer “snack. Nap. Outside, book.”, whereas his same aged cousin will answer “we had snack, we took naps, we played outside, and the teacher read us a book.” Franco’s mother stated “he is not fluent like other kids his age.” Franco’s mother also expressed concern that Franco has trouble with identifying numbers and colors and is behind his peers in these competencies. Franco’s mother listed on his intake form that he has had these behavioral problems for 3 years (so that means prior to the cochlear implants and for the majority of his life). Franco’s mother said he has a problem with hitting other kids and he is angry a lot. Franco’s mother was also very concerned that they have a new baby due very soon, they transitioned Franco to his “big boy bed in his own room” recently and that Franco goes into his room and locks the door. Alexa said that when she opens the door she finds that Franco is just playing
During his outbursts his mother said “it is hard for him to communicate and he gets so frustrated.” Franco’s mother explained that Franco received cochlear implants at the age of 2 and as a result, his speech and hearing is significantly delayed. Franco and his same age cousin are in the same class, and Franco’s mother explained to me that “Franco is not fluent.” If she asks Franco what happened at school that day he will answer “snack. Nap. Outside, book.”, whereas his same aged cousin will answer “we had snack, we took naps, we played outside, and the teacher read us a book.” Franco’s mother stated “he is not fluent like other kids his age.” Franco’s mother also expressed concern that Franco has trouble with identifying numbers and colors and is behind his peers in these competencies. Franco’s mother listed on his intake form that he has had these behavioral problems for 3 years (so that means prior to the cochlear implants and for the majority of his life). Franco’s mother said he has a problem with hitting other kids and he is angry a lot. Franco’s mother was also very concerned that they have a new baby due very soon, they transitioned Franco to his “big boy bed in his own room” recently and that Franco goes into his room and locks the door. Alexa said that when she opens the door she finds that Franco is just playing