Update!!!!!!!!!!!!
Find a Conversation
| Sat, 10-28-2006 - 5:13pm |
I hope some of you remember me and my son who has PDD-NOS. ;-)
In May he turned 18 and I got on here to let everyone then know how things are going.
I am back with yet another update. Hubby and I have been wondering if he would make it at a "real" job and low and behold he got a job at Taco Bell and he is doing great. He still attends school daily-full schedule and works afternoons. Wednesday he got his first full check and he worked nearly 55 hours that pay period and that is bi-weekly. His lowest grade in school is a C+ so I offered him to stay home yesterday from school since he has been working hard and getting to bed late and he was pretty cranky and was concerned about his attitude at school but he chose to go to school and did well. He still has his drivers license. He wanted to open up his own checking account so we did that yesterday-his first day off since getting paid. He is so excited.
This is just a glimpse for some of you that there is a bright spot in the future. I have often wondered if he would be able to live on his own.
He is getting set up with voc rehab and I really believe the Lord is easing my mind. Hubby and I have been worried about him going to college-the college is a couple hours away so he would live there and come back on weekends. I have been praising the Lord for his security. Son's best friend who happens to be my best friend's son is planning on going to college the same place, same major (computers) and plan to live in the same apartment/dorm. This kid has level head on his shoulders and I believe he is a great fit for our son. Also this kid has asked son if he could get some autism awareness ribbons because he has to do a speech in school and chose autism to do a speech on and wanted the ribbons to hand out. That is just awesome!!!!! I made him 30 and got them done yesterday.
Son and I still have our ups and downs, a lot of the time we are like water and oil but I love him so much and want him to succeed and I really do think I am hard on him, hubby thinks I am too hard but look at what he has accomplished with me *pushing* him. I would rather use the word supporting him instead of pushing. I would do anything for him and I have seen where hubby and I may have held him back for fear of him failing.
I hope this update wasn't too long and thanks for reading!

&nb
Pages
I'm trying the picture here...I hope it sticks.
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g247/suzyqe1/JimmyTacoBelluniform10282006.jpg
Edited 10/29/2006 4:04 pm ET by mamabearof2
OMG!!!!
visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
Good Memory, Linda!
Yep...still in IL. But haven't been at the bookstore for quite a while. I was working in marketing, left that job to work for a major non-profit organization, only to find out you shouldn't take a job during a period of strategic planning, because you easily get "strategically planned" right out of a job! So I'm currently looking for work *again*.
What a fine young gentleman you've raised. (And Taco Bell happens to be my major weakness!) Like the others have said, my hope is to be in your shoes some day. So far, we can't even imagine Claire ever functioning on her own.
Please keep in touch!
Amy
Have you seen the latest Autism Advocate magazine? There was an article and it featured a bunch of different kids. One that struck me was this young man who runs for his school team. His mom said that unless you were trained, you'd never pick up the kid as autistic. I guess at 4 he was non-verbal and somewhere around there diagnosed as mod/severe autistic. You just never know how far they can go.
Renee
Thanks Paula-he is handsome! :-) He looks a lot like his daddy.
Thanks for the supportive words. It is trying at times raising our children. My older brother is mild MR and when he was young like 18 or 20 he got a vasectomy. I think his MIL had something to do with that-she really encouraged it. The more I've been thinking about it, really makes sense. I haven't even talked to DH about it and here I am sharing it with you. Wow! I plan on trying to listen to God and He will show us what to do. :-)
I am actually finally getting my special ed credential. I have my undergrade in elementary ed and started my sped nearly 14 years ago. I quit when Cait came along. The credential program is 1 class short of a masters. I haven't decided yet if it will get my full masters or just the credential. Most likely the masters but right now any extra class sounds like a major pain in the tush as I still have the better part of 2 years left.
We actually have a good plan in line for Cait's future that I think will work out well. She does animals well. Anything animal, and has a fabulous memory/visual skills. She is currently volunteering at the theraputic horsebackriding place where she has ridden since she was 6. She volunteers full day on Saturday and has her lesson. She is learning great job skills where she is understood and is doing something she loves. She actually is thinking about becoming an NAHRA instructor and I think she would be great at that.
We have a number of community and the state college close to here where she could attend classes while still at home and do it at a rate that would work for her. She can also volunteer at animal shelters as well.
In high school I will likely have her do a workability program to learn more job skills as well as some programs ot learn life skills like budgetting, etc. Plus we are teaching that at home.
Cait would like to be either as a theraputic instructor (she wants to work with animals and teach kids with special needs so it is perfect) or an "Animal Cop" (Ie animal control). Either one I think is very doable for her.
As for school, well this has been a rough year and a half. I am beginning to come to terms with the fact that either her seizures are causing cognitive changes or her autism is catching up to her. She had some big drops particularly in reading and I was a bit disheartened to find out even from some indepent folks we went to that this is not that surprising and she may need to see a reading specialist now and she may eventually end up in a more restrictive program.
C'est la vie.
Renee
Sorry about your luck. Federal funds here are switching and I don't know where my job will be either. Everyone at my agency is trying to jump ship before it sinks. I have applied for a state job helping people through promise jobs. Hopefully that pans out.
For years we couldn't see Jimmy functioning on his own either. He has just blossomed and very glad to see it.
I like Taco Bell too. When he first started we went there a couple times since he does drive through a lot- we went through there. Surprised him the first time. Second time DH was driving and one of his co-workers said "Hi Dad!" so Jimmy must have told him who we were. I can't have too much Taco Bell because I have lost over 70 pounds since last Christmas and trying to lose more. I was well over 200 pounds.
Pages