Melissa

Melissa loves to be around the action, watch activities and meet visitors. She responds really well to touch, smiles, and being included in the group. Melissa can scratch herself, and thus sometimes she has to have her hands gently restrained. She tends to stay quietly on the sidelines but she loves having company and being talked to when someone initiates the interaction. Because Melissa does not speak it is hard to assess how much she understands, but it is clear she is aware of her surroundings and understands the tone and some of what is being said.