Re: question-need some help

December 23, 2010

I'll say fixing himself something to eat. He's 21 now, but back in middle

school, even a sandwich seemed too complicated. High school a bit better, but

still seemed a *process* for him. Same with just following instructions on a

boxed microwave food, I had to read each one to him and wait for him to do it,

then read next one.... And his reading skills/level were as good (or better)

than mine, it was just too much a process for something that wasn't a " routine "

for him, understanding what to do, I guess. He's better at that now but still

has never shown an interest in actually trying to cook on stove, with oven, etc.

At college now, he eats out.

Toothbrushing - I always wondered if part of that was a motor skill problem?

But wasn't the best at cleaning. And flossing was very awkward. He doesn't

floss now (if he does, very rarely!). Also showering -- even at start of high

school, needed my help to get the " water temp " right before he could take one.

The hot/cold adjustment was too difficult for him. And since family shared a

bathroom, I always had to go over him *which* towel, washcloth, etc., to use; if

I didn't, he would always yell to ask " which washcloth...which shampoo...do I

use? " (we solved the towel thing by getting his own color, different from the

rest of us)

Household chores -- had to be simple (take out trash); else, had to tell him

each step to do; and wait, then next step.... The " decision making " of where to

start, is this trash or do we keep it... " would have him delaying and asking me

a dozen questions.

He does drive a car, but we are in a small town/city, only about 4-5 main roads

or so. I really don't think he can ever do an interstate, 5-lane highway type

thing to the larger cities near us. Things like having to merge, take exits,

change lanes, judge speed/distance, how to react re cars around you, traffic

" manners " ...still very awkward with him, too chancy to risk. And he has a lead

foot!

Wow, your dd flies planes! Good for her!

Quick thoughts, probably lots more I just can't think of now.

>

> My son is currently working on a project that involves autism and daily living

skills. He needs some help right now. He is wondering in a typical day what

three daily living skills does your child have. How old is your child and where

on the spectrum are they?

>

December 23, 2010

putting on socks and shoes and tying them, can be a major meltdown if not done properly or distracted

he is 5 aspergers, adhd, mood disorder

brushing teeth, not just the front ones, sometimes we get lost in the bathroom, play with everything, including toothpaste...sometimes just standing there and has no idea what he is supposed to be doing

Thanks for sharing about your daughter, it gives me hope things will improve.

Sandy

In a message dated 12/23/2010 9:23:40 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, robindeutsch@... writes:

My son is currently working on a project that involves autism and daily living skills. He needs some help right now. He is wondering in a typical day what three daily living skills does your child have. How old is your child and where on the spectrum are they? I know with my daughter it was the simple things such as all the steps for brushing her teeth, remembering to not just brush the sides of her hair but the back as well and some showering skills. Now at 27 she can do all those things herself, but when she was younger she always had trouble and I would have to be behind her telling her what to do. Everything had to be broken down into little steps for her. Back then little if anything was known about autism. I didn't realize that I was using ABA back then with all the little things I was doing to help her. She has gone from having little to no language to now speaking at autism conferences and rallies. She even has her own website where she sells her incredible art. The doctors told us she would never go on to college (she graduated with honors), never have friends (she has several) and never drive a car (she doesn't drive a car, she flies planes) and many other never be able tos. She is remarkable and while she doesn't remembe r much about what it was like being autistic when she was younger, she can verbalize what she feels like now. (She still has trouble in very large crowds where the noise is very loud.) Because of her knowledge of autism she is helping her brother in this project. Please help with some feedback.

December 23, 2010

Wow Stephan, this is so encouraging to read your daughter's story. Thank you for

sharing!

My son is 13, Aspergers dx. He also has to be told daily every step to take to

get ready for school. I would say the three daily living skills he DOES have

are:

1-can make himself something to eat, even a grilled cheese sandwhich.

2-can stay home alone for a few hours without burning down the house.

3-can do simple chores like clean room, change catbox, and clean his bathroom.

(course sometimes I have to go behind him)

On an average day, the only think he can do without having to be prompted

though, is make sure he eats. Now if you want a list of daily living skills he

doesn't have right now, that would be different. I'm wondering if that is what

you meant to ask?

ne

> From: stephen <robindeutsch@...>

> Subject: ( ) question-need some help

>

> Date: Wednesday, December 22, 2010, 8:26 PM

>

> Â

>

> My son is currently working on a project that

> involves autism and daily living skills. He needs some help

> right now. He is wondering in a typical day what three daily

> living skills does your child have. How old is your child

> and where on the spectrum are they?

>

> I know with my daughter it was the simple things such as

> all the steps for brushing her teeth, remembering to not

> just brush the sides of her hair but the back as well and

> some showering skills. Now at 27 she can do all those things

> herself, but when she was younger she always had trouble and

> I would have to be behind her telling her what to do.

> Everything had to be broken down into little steps for her.

> Back then little if anything was known about autism. I

> didn't realize that I was using ABA back then with all

> the little things I was doing to help her. She has gone from

> having little to no language to now speaking at autism

> conferences and rallies. She even has her own website where

> she sells her incredible art. The doctors told us she would

> never go on to college (she graduated with honors), never

> have friends (she has several) and never drive a car (she

> doesn't drive a car, she flies planes) and many other

> never be able tos. She is remarkable and while she

> doesn't remember much about what it was like being

> autistic when she was younger, she can verbalize what she

> feels like now. (She still has trouble in very large crowds

> where the noise is very loud.) Because of her knowledge of

> autism she is helping her brother in this project.

>

> Please help with some feedback.

>

December 23, 2010

My son has become a lot more independent in the last couple of years. It

happened because we pushed him a bit more to do it on his own and we developed

ways that made it easier for him. We used to do a lot for him to help him get

ready in the mornings. Now we have him pack his backpack, set out his breakfast

(in covered dishes), pick out his clothes for the next day and his morning

tolietries/medicines before he goes to bed. Not having to rush around trying to

remind him to do all of this in the mornings has helped lessen the stress of

getting out of the house on time in the mornings.

What living skills is he lacking: trimming his own toe nails; cooking for

himself (he can use the microwave or toaster oven with no problems);

communicating clearly with strangers - this includes ordering at a restaurant

(he has fussy tastes and likes things just so) to asking staff clear easy to

understand questions at a museum/zoo. We are working on all of these. We've

found that it takes time (longer than a nt kid) for my son to learn a new skill

so we have to be patient but we also have to push him a bit because a lot of

times he prefers us to do it for him.

My son is 15. I would say he is high functioning.

Caroline

>

> My son is currently working on a project that involves autism and daily living

skills. He needs some help right now. He is wondering in a typical day what

three daily living skills does your child have. How old is your child and where

on the spectrum are they?

>

> I know with my daughter it was the simple things such as all the steps for

brushing her teeth, remembering to not just brush the sides of her hair but the

back as well and some showering skills. Now at 27 she can do all those things

herself, but when she was younger she always had trouble and I would have to be

behind her telling her what to do. Everything had to be broken down into little

steps for her. Back then little if anything was known about autism. I didn't

realize that I was using ABA back then with all the little things I was doing to

help her. She has gone from having little to no language to now speaking at

autism conferences and rallies. She even has her own website where she sells her

incredible art. The doctors told us she would never go on to college (she

graduated with honors), never have friends (she has several) and never drive a

car (she doesn't drive a car, she flies planes) and many other never be able

tos. She is remarkable and while she doesn't remember much about what it was

like being autistic when she was younger, she can verbalize what she feels like

now. (She still has trouble in very large crowds where the noise is very loud.)

Because of her knowledge of autism she is helping her brother in this project.

>

> Please help with some feedback.

>

December 23, 2010

My son, 10, with PDD-NOS. He can dress himself, put on his shoes (though he hates wearing socks, so he wears crocs now) and get his coat / backpack on when we leave for school.

Anything else, as far as personal hygene (brushing teeth, washing up, hair care) he does NOT do on his own / voluntarily and we have to coerce him into.

From: stephen <robindeutsch@...>Subject: ( ) question-need some help Date: Wednesday, December 22, 2010, 5:26 PM

My son is currently working on a project that involves autism and daily living skills. He needs some help right now. He is wondering in a typical day what three daily living skills does your child have. How old is your child and where on the spectrum are they? I know with my daughter it was the simple things such as all the steps for brushing her teeth, remembering to not just brush the sides of her hair but the back as well and some showering skills. Now at 27 she can do all those things herself, but when she was younger she always had trouble and I would have to be behind her telling her what to do. Everything had to be broken down into little steps for her. Back then little if anything was known about autism. I didn't realize that I was using ABA back then with all the little things I was doing to help her. She has gone from having little to no language to now speaking at autism conferences and rallies. She even has her own website where

she sells her incredible art. The doctors told us she would never go on to college (she graduated with honors), never have friends (she has several) and never drive a car (she doesn't drive a car, she flies planes) and many other never be able tos. She is remarkable and while she doesn't remember much about what it was like being autistic when she was younger, she can verbalize what she feels like now. (She still has trouble in very large crowds where the noise is very loud.) Because of her knowledge of autism she is helping her brother in this project. Please help with some feedback.

December 23, 2010

My son is seven and still needs help brushing his teeth, bathing, and zipping

zippers and buttoning buttons and tying shoes. He brushes his own teeth but I

have to check them several times and tell him where he missed. He still hates

baths and can't stand water in his ears. I still have to pour water over his

head and shampoo it as he doesn't like to rub in the shampoo. He will scrub his

own body though, but I have to break it into steps the same for dressing

himself. He is starting to learn to pour if the milk jug is really low and can

make a sloppy but edible peanut butter and honey sandwich and is capable of

getting out a piece of fruit from the fridge and washing it. Again, he is seven

and has Asperger's syndrome.

--- In , " stephen " <robindeutsch@...> wrot