May 16 2012

Took pics of Dunc this morning.

He looks so handsome in his vintage looking polo.

I let him choose which shoes he wanted. Yesterday, when I couldn't find his shoes, I put him in my old green and blue checked Vans. So cute.

And he knew what it meant when I said "choose!" in the voice I have for years.

He put them on himself.

He made a rush for some chips this morning. Knocking things over in the way.

I took the chips. Pointed to the sign for chips and made him pick up the bottles and other things that he dropped along the way.

I can see many possibilities for the i-pad.

It's not being used that much at school. Maybe Ardene is using her phone.

But I had the moment - like I've heard Ardene describe - when I realize, "He is ready to move on. He's bored looking at that school morning visual schedule."

It's the timer that has been most noticeable necessity. I like it. It's a place holder between Duncan and I.
I have so many things going on at once and he has no self-agency.  There is no busi-ness or task or consistent behavior for which he can be held accountable.

Or so I've thought.

But here's the thing, Duncan is flexible. He definitely now knows that he can only eat in the kitchen.

He gets no more yoo hoo, but water in creaky squeezey bottles has everyone drinking more water and it's the only thing he can take back to his room.

So, we use the ipad and the calendar. I should learn Boardmaker.

Maybe keep the calendar on the ipad rather than print out. Yes. I think so.

I will have a daily planner that is his. Time of day is something I think he could understand.

I-prompt (schedules - this is a sort of planner)

JJ loves

I was going to work and noticed the words "I love you" written in the dirt on my side mirror and on the back window.

Signs

Link to IEP lists

Juice
Milk
YooHoo
Chocolate, Strawberry
Dress
wipe
egg
outside
Next - what next?
After
wet/dry

or

thirsty

In Practice: routine and visuals

Visual Calendar - add time

Episodic Memory

Bathroom: word for poop or pee
                 toilet, washing hands
                 bathing

Teeth
Hair
Face
Dressing
Belt
Jacket
Socks
Shoes

5-21-10

Didn't go to the lake today, but came home and Duncan got to walk out in the wind and play in water. Hose at pump house, front of house; then bucket of dog water. Swings. Dog chews dead rodent.

But now there's crying

Go to dog pen - [so this is how the dogs got out] - the bucket was emptied. I had just filled it.

And Duncan fleeing the house with his pants down.

JJ has placed her Vetrinarian Barbie on the grave of dead kitten.

Research and non fiction

Maverick Mind

Exiting Nirvana

Sacks

Grandin

Catherine Maurice

Lovaas

Gutstein

"How Autism Ages"

_Boy Alone_

Dr Shaw

Duncan, No!

I was at Gena's for maybe 15 minutes. Duncan knew there would be an inflatable pool in backyard and like before - a 3 or so foot pool is in the back. We let him tip the sides, flood a little.

He bounced on the edge.

And eventually, he bit the hole.

It's me who takes the blame.

It doesn't matter how sorry you are - I am - their property is destroyed - well not beyond repair - and now Charlie has a chore to do.

This one of those ways that this disability warps the rest of the family. Drives you more and more into your own home.

Malcolm joked about it yesterday, at the St Paul's camp out; he joked about what "could" happen.

"I hope" said Malcolm "that he doesn't pull his pants down and pee like he did at the flea market."

I'd forgotten about that one, but I remembered when he did it i the planter outside of Pirates of the Carribean.

"I'll be like," continued the Malcolm invented story of Duncan doing this there, at M's own school, "Who is that kid?", shrugging his shoulders

And you'll be, he looks at me, "Malcolm get your brother."

And we both laughed.

Like our story about M's kids visiting Duncan someday, "Uncle Duncan No!" when Duncan tries to grab their candy or whatever.

helpful critque

People who say what they think about Duncan, for real.

Brenna - [don't be a hero. there is no afterlife. don't sacrifice a whole family - institution is made for him. on the other hand and at the very least, have times when his door is locked: a schedule.]
Cecilia - [you let him get away with it. you shouldn't let him have a drink unless he is supervised.]
Ardene - [he has to clean up for himself, even if you come back to it later and again and again. It has to be him]

messages or just messes

its hard not to take the destruction perso ally.

routine. we have been trying to discover his routine since he was less than two yeRs old.

insteD, he seems bent on never ever having a routine.

returning home st tje end of the school dY, i turn on the water for hom usinf oliers outog tje key pad locked door.

he took it to tje dog pen and soaked it all. he slipped on pasr jis sisrer to my bathroom and artacked lipsticks eyeshhadows cremes liquids

poor jj

couldnt wait to poop in the partially disabled toilet.

messages or just messes

its hard not to take the destruction perso ally.

routine. we have been trying to discover his routine since he was less than two yeRs old.

insteD, he seems bent on never ever having a routine.

returning home st tje end of the school dY, i turn on the water for hom usinf oliers outog tje key pad locked door.

he took it to tje dog pen and soaked it all. he slipped on pasr jis sisrer to my bathroom and artacked lipsticks eyeshhadows cremes liquids

poor jj

couldnt wait to poop in the partially disabled toilet.

In a day

I walked in to an adult day facility and talked to a twenty something about a new career.

Admin over two adult living facilities.

I started using the iprompt timer with duncan.

Adding times to his schedules and calendars would be a good idea.

Must contact Kleitman regarding Ardene's placement.

Went to dentist yesterday. It's kind of awful, but I don't know how else to go about having a dental exam for Duncan.

He looked at me, knowing that he had to lie in the papoose.

It was hard.

Now we have to make an appointment with the regular doctor to clear Dunc for surgery because he needs to be out for a filling.