MCU170049 - Submission - Tracy & Jim Blayney

Nambour = School 10 Windsor Road Nambour 4860
Phone: 8444 9333

Fax: 8444 9300

www.nambourspecs.eq.edu.au

26/7/17

To Whom It May Concern,

lam writing this letter regarding the support requirements of Keegan Blayney, who isa
student at Nambour Special School.

Keegan has a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum disorder (ASD), Intellectual Disability and Cystic
Fibrosis. Keegan is non-verbal and is learning to use a device to communicate. He also has
extreme sensory sensitivity issues around noise. Keegan wears headphones at school to assist
him to cope with the noise within the school environment. He also wears headphones on the
journey to and from school in the bus. While the headphones minimise the overstimulation he
receives from noise, they do not fully block or ‘solve’ his noise sensitivities, but are one tool
used to assist him to reduce the sensory input he receives.

Keegan’s sensitivity to noise is quite extreme and can cause him physical pain. When he is
overwhelmed by noise, Keegan can exhibit physical responses to this overwhelming stimuli,
including crying, pinching, hitting and/or kicking others as a way of trying to self-regulate,
self- soothe or communicate the he wants the noise to stop.

Within the school environment, Keegan requires careful planning around classroom
composition and location to minimise the impact of noise. A noisy environment also impacts
on Keegan’s capacity to communicate and to engage in learning.

As a student with a diagnosis of Autism who is non-verbal, Keegan experiences high levels of
anxiety which impacts on his physical and emotional wellbeing. Keegan’s home needs to be
acalm and quiet environment where noise sand stressors can be kept to a minimum. After
managing the school day and the stressors outside of the family home, Keegan needs his
home to be a quiet refuge where he can relax and ‘re-set.’ Overwhelming sensory stimuli can
result in behaviours that can put Keegan and others at risk.

If you require further information, please contact Nambour Special School on 5444 9333.

Regards

Karen Abt
Class Teacher