Mission Resource Network

Tyron Neil Penner
Born, July 18, 1999
Age: 12 yrs Height: 5.5 ft Weight: 147lbs
Tyron’s family: Paul & Elma Penner, 4 sisters Jessie 16 yrs, Candace 15 yrs, Veronica 10yrs, Coralee 5 yrs.
We live on a small farm with some ranch cattle, horses, goats, sheep and a barn full of hens. Paul works in a business and part time with cattle. Jessie works part time as accountant. Candace has been doing therapies with Tyron over the last 11 months, and she plans to return to school in August. Veronica is in school, and Coralee, a preschooler at home.
When Tyron was 2 years old he was diagnosed in MB Canada as “Severely Hyperactive, High Functioning Autism. Thankfully he is not so hyperactive anymore. He is still hyperactive but can also be nice & calm many times. We have been on the program of “The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential” for 5 yrs. Now we make up or own program from what we have learned and continue to learn through books and different other people.
Tyron has a lot of medical problems, ear infections over and over, allergies to medications, seasonal allergies, and food intolerance. He has to have a special diet, gluten and casein free, low carbohydrates.
He has had five ear/nose surgeries over the last five years.
Tyron is hypersensitive auditory and visual. He use to be very hypersensitive tactile too but not so much anymore. Now he loves to be hugged. In fact that is one of his first love language now, and often his reward for doing something well. Hugs and praises motivate him to do challenging things.
Therapies that we’re doing now are:
Blowing, he can blow different whistles independent. With bubbles he needs some help and we’re working on balloons.
Typing he needs lots of assistance yet. We go hand over hand in colouring and righting. He is very quick at math and reading, we have to hold the book for him and turn pages. He is a speed reader and reads any level books. Science, history and biography are his favourite subjects to read. We also read to him where he has to sit still and listen.
Balls fascinate him he never gets to many, so we’re practicing some ball games. Bowling is one that he really enjoys.
He needs lots of help with dressing and undressing, bathing, brushing teeth, and going to the toilet. He is not potty trained yet. We’re working on that. (Not necessary the teacher’s job)
Physical program is: Going for a fast walk 45 min every day and jumping on the jump pod. Teaching him summersaults and he has to do some rolling and creeping.
His favourite thing is to go for long rides in the van and listening to music.
He has some therapy music that he’s listening to 30 min every day.
He can spoon feed himself but needs assistance to manage a meal.
He is often very noisy. It’s a challenge for him to sit still through church service, but has been able to do it at times.
He is not aggressive as many other Autism children are. But does self injuries, like bighting his hand and hitting his head.
He is nonverbal so we also do speech therapy, and tried some sign language too.
Mom has been his teacher most of his life. Linda Penner, Lucinda Chuck, Martha Loewen and Susan Burkholder each spent a few months teaching him. And now the last 11 months his sister Candace was his teacher.
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The home church of Paul and Elma Penner gave their blessing to us, Ben & Mary Penner,( current director) and Kenton & Norma Reimer, both from the Penner’s home church, to assist this family with their special son in the area of education.
Our aim is to provide help to them annually, starting beginning of May through March. We are quite ready to adjust in the program or the helper’s responsibility, if an interested person would feel incapable of fulfilling all the needs.
We have a house available for the teacher to live in, if this would be a need. It would be a plus to us if this person could join our church circle while at service here. Our church is from the Kleinegemeinde, located in Spanish Lookout, Cayo, Belize.