Jonathan has had a season of growth! I'm glad I started this blog so I can look back and see all the progress he's made the last couple of years. Remembering where we've come from helps me to keep moving forward. So here are the recent reasons to celebrate...
-Jonathan used the Dynavox to request a specific toy and to turn out the lights this week. Up until now, he's mostly used it to request the same food/drink items over and over.
-I programmed the Dynavox to insert his words into a sentence strip. He now has to request in a full sentence and then push "talk". It's the next step in the process of teaching him to (hopefully) read someday. He took to it very well and we are using this new setup all the time now.
-Today, I took Jonathan grocery shopping with me. I programmed his Dynavox with a grocery list to check off. He pushed the cart and tossed (literally) items into the cart that I would hand him. He was happy the whole time, stayed with me (we didn't use a tethering strap) and we both enjoyed our successful outing together. We celebrated with an order of french fries from McDonald's on the way home!
It's so great to see tangible evidence of learning and growth!
Today is a good day.
Heather
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
Success with the Dynavox!
We are seeing some huge progress with Jonathan and his Dynavox. In the past few weeks he's discovered that the device is portable and has started carrying it around the house to request things. For several months, he basically used it to ask for food. We were excited to see this, and he seemed to be happy to be understood. Then recently he started asking to go swimming. It's January, so I laughed and said "you're silly-it's too cold"! I really didn't think much of that interaction until the next time he requested swimming...only this time he giggled before he pushed the button...he was JOKING!!! What a break-through! My little non-verbal son has a sense of humor. Now he plays the joking game all the time. I love it!
Tonight he brought the Dynavox to me and requested a specific toy. It turns out, the toy had been mistakenly locked in a closet. Just a few months ago I was adding his favorite toys to the device and wondering if he would ever actually use that feature.
So our journey continues. This progress gives me hope for his future.
Until next time,
Heather
Tonight he brought the Dynavox to me and requested a specific toy. It turns out, the toy had been mistakenly locked in a closet. Just a few months ago I was adding his favorite toys to the device and wondering if he would ever actually use that feature.
So our journey continues. This progress gives me hope for his future.
Until next time,
Heather
Monday, October 11, 2010
Time is flying!!!
I can't believe it's been 10 months since I've updated this blog! Life continues to move at a fast pace...I don't get many quiet moments to sit and type.
Since my last update, we've been able to purchase (with the help of insurance) a communication device for Jonathan called a Dynavox. Basically, it's a portable computer with a touch screen. He is able to touch pictures and navigate through different categories and the computer will speak for him. This has opened up his world. We are thrilled! We're working on some basic letter skills in the hopes that one day he'll understand how to read. What a huge task this is, but we continue to put one foot in front of the other and keep moving....forward for the most part!
Buddy, Jonathan's service dog, continues to be a constant support for him. Many days I question whether there is a bond forming at all. Some days, Jonathan seems to want nothing to do with him. Then there are days like one last week....Buddy was limping at school. They called to tell me, so I had my dad go pick him up early. I didn't think too much of it until I got another notification from the school that Jonathan was having a terrible afternoon. Aggressive behavior toward other students, melt downs, time outs...this isn't typical for him! Ah...Buddy wasn't there! Whether I see signs of bonding or not, when Buddy isn't there, there is a noticeable difference! So once again, I thank all of you who played a role in helping us on our journey to get a service dog for Jonathan. What an amazing gift!
Recent developments and areas we could use prayer:
Dave was able to teach Jonathan how to take bites from a sandwich. Up until last week, we had to cut everything into bite sizes because of his sensory integration dysfunction. He stuffs his mouth with food because he doesn't recognize that it is too full. I have to watch for choking all the time, but now he seems to really be turning a corner. Dave is so patient with him-he's the best dad! We still have issues with the limited variety of foods that he eats, but he's making progress.
We are still searching for the best educational setting for Jonathan. We have a tour of a new school in the near future that specializes in children with autism. The waiting list is long....but I've heard good things. Please pray that we make the right decision.
Continuing the journey...
Heather
Since my last update, we've been able to purchase (with the help of insurance) a communication device for Jonathan called a Dynavox. Basically, it's a portable computer with a touch screen. He is able to touch pictures and navigate through different categories and the computer will speak for him. This has opened up his world. We are thrilled! We're working on some basic letter skills in the hopes that one day he'll understand how to read. What a huge task this is, but we continue to put one foot in front of the other and keep moving....forward for the most part!
Buddy, Jonathan's service dog, continues to be a constant support for him. Many days I question whether there is a bond forming at all. Some days, Jonathan seems to want nothing to do with him. Then there are days like one last week....Buddy was limping at school. They called to tell me, so I had my dad go pick him up early. I didn't think too much of it until I got another notification from the school that Jonathan was having a terrible afternoon. Aggressive behavior toward other students, melt downs, time outs...this isn't typical for him! Ah...Buddy wasn't there! Whether I see signs of bonding or not, when Buddy isn't there, there is a noticeable difference! So once again, I thank all of you who played a role in helping us on our journey to get a service dog for Jonathan. What an amazing gift!
Recent developments and areas we could use prayer:
Dave was able to teach Jonathan how to take bites from a sandwich. Up until last week, we had to cut everything into bite sizes because of his sensory integration dysfunction. He stuffs his mouth with food because he doesn't recognize that it is too full. I have to watch for choking all the time, but now he seems to really be turning a corner. Dave is so patient with him-he's the best dad! We still have issues with the limited variety of foods that he eats, but he's making progress.
We are still searching for the best educational setting for Jonathan. We have a tour of a new school in the near future that specializes in children with autism. The waiting list is long....but I've heard good things. Please pray that we make the right decision.
Continuing the journey...
Heather
Saturday, January 16, 2010
January Update
I was just reading my email and saw that the new class at 4Paws is finding out who their dog is today. That brings back so many exciting memories. I can't believe what a journey we've had since I first discovered 4Paws for Ability in February of 2008! So much has happened in such a short time.
Buddy and Jonathan are doing well. We had a bit of an issue at school and church for a short time with Buddy acting more like a puppy and less like a well-trained service dog. We realized that he was getting so much attention that he started looking for people to pet him instead of focusing on working for Jonathan so we've had to put a stop to people petting him. At first, we let people because we were told it could create opportunities for social interactions with Jonathan...but it wasn't working. First of all, Buddy is so darn cute that people pretty much ignore Jonathan and just want to pet the dog! Second, Buddy is so smart that he realized people wanted to pet him and he didn't need to work...wrong answer! Things have gotten much better lately.
Jonathan will start using a new communication device soon on a trial basis to see if we want to purchase it. Basically it is a computer that is programmed with pictures that will speak for him. We are very hopeful that this will be a great help to him. What a world this would open up for him if he could communicate his wants and needs!
Eating is still an issue for him. His cognitive skills have improve enough that he now is able to understand that he has to sit at the table to eat (new in the last couple of months), but his variety of food remains extremely limited. Sometimes, we are able to all eat together as a family. That is a new and wonderful experience for us!
That is about all the "new" things to report. Thanks for continuing to pray for our family and especially for Jonathan. God is a very real and present part of our daily lives. We could not do this without His amazing strength.
Heather
Buddy and Jonathan are doing well. We had a bit of an issue at school and church for a short time with Buddy acting more like a puppy and less like a well-trained service dog. We realized that he was getting so much attention that he started looking for people to pet him instead of focusing on working for Jonathan so we've had to put a stop to people petting him. At first, we let people because we were told it could create opportunities for social interactions with Jonathan...but it wasn't working. First of all, Buddy is so darn cute that people pretty much ignore Jonathan and just want to pet the dog! Second, Buddy is so smart that he realized people wanted to pet him and he didn't need to work...wrong answer! Things have gotten much better lately.
Jonathan will start using a new communication device soon on a trial basis to see if we want to purchase it. Basically it is a computer that is programmed with pictures that will speak for him. We are very hopeful that this will be a great help to him. What a world this would open up for him if he could communicate his wants and needs!
Eating is still an issue for him. His cognitive skills have improve enough that he now is able to understand that he has to sit at the table to eat (new in the last couple of months), but his variety of food remains extremely limited. Sometimes, we are able to all eat together as a family. That is a new and wonderful experience for us!
That is about all the "new" things to report. Thanks for continuing to pray for our family and especially for Jonathan. God is a very real and present part of our daily lives. We could not do this without His amazing strength.
Heather
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
We are having one of the best breaks from school that our family has ever experienced. Usually, I dread them-because a change in daily schedules is never a good thing when autism is a factor.
Christmas day was wonderful. Jonathan has discovered presents...and for the first time, he stayed in the room while we all opened gifts, and he opened all of his...and mine...and Dave's..and a couple of Aaron's. (Aaron was the only one who minded.) It was the best gift to see Jonathan participating!
Dave has saved up some vacation time, so he was able to take off the majority of the school break to spend with the family. We are making a point to spend a portion of each day playing games with the boys. They love it, and we are seeing a closeness in our family because of it.
I hope you are able to spend time with friends and family this holiday season, and to remember the One who is the reason for the celebration.
Merry Christmas to all,
Heather
Christmas day was wonderful. Jonathan has discovered presents...and for the first time, he stayed in the room while we all opened gifts, and he opened all of his...and mine...and Dave's..and a couple of Aaron's. (Aaron was the only one who minded.) It was the best gift to see Jonathan participating!
Dave has saved up some vacation time, so he was able to take off the majority of the school break to spend with the family. We are making a point to spend a portion of each day playing games with the boys. They love it, and we are seeing a closeness in our family because of it.
I hope you are able to spend time with friends and family this holiday season, and to remember the One who is the reason for the celebration.
Merry Christmas to all,
Heather
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
November 2009
Thanks for all the prayers and support for Jonathan's food challenges. We've had a lot of progress in the past couple of weeks and he is now eating much better than he was. Yesterday was Veteran's Day and we all had a day off. It was so nice! I was able to get Jonathan to sit at the breakfast table to eat, and he finally was able to understand that he had to sit there until he was finished eating. We enjoyed our first family breakfast together.
School is going well. Buddy is literally the teacher's pet...and just about all the other teachers at the school as well! They all think he's amazing...which he is! Jonathan is still slowly bonding. Some days I see a lot of progress-days when he'll give me the tethering strap because he wants to go somewhere, or days, like yesterday, when I watched him straddle Buddy like a horse and lay down on his back (Buddy stood there very still and just let his boy lay on him-I wish I'd had my camera!)
We still keep locks on all the doors, but I have hope that one day that won't be necessary because Buddy is starting to alert us when Jonathan leaves the house. (He's also alerting the teacher at school if Jonathan leaves the room without him!)
Jonathan is continuing to respond more and more to sign language. He is using a comunication book at school that has pictures of different things for him to request. All of the things that we've been trying and failing at for years are finally starting to work for him, and it's so encouraging!
On a different note...we just had our first IEP meeting for our youngest son, Aaron. He is in kindergarten again this year, and is having difficulty processing receptive language. That means that anything that is said to him without some sort of visual cue is not getting processed in his brain. He's had an initial test to see if he also falls into the autism spectrum. We've had him tested before, but don't have a diagnosis for him yet. It's been difficult to discern whether he was having developmental issues during his early years, or just imitating Jonathan. More testing is scheduled in the next couple of weeks, and we have started speech services to work on his receptive language skills.
I'm trying to focus on the positives. He is at the top of his class in letter recognition and sounds. He just started counting to 100, and seems to have a good grasp of one-to-one correspondence with numbers. With the right helps in place, I think Aaron will be okay.
It's a lot to digest that I have two children with disabilities. I'm currently reading an excellent book by Dee Brestin called "The God of All Comfort". It's actually about her journey when she lost her husband to cancer, but it has a lot of good things for anyone who is walking a difficult road. I highly recommend it to any of you-because the reality is that we all experience pain in life. And the longer I've been on this road, I realize that you can't compare pain-it is devastating to whoever is living with it. It has not helped me to be angry with God (although I tried that route for a long time). It does help me to know that He is with me in the fire, to experience it alongside me, even when I can't feel Him there.
Thank you, again, to all of you who are praying for Jonathan and Aaron and our family. Your prayers and support are so important and necessary. We are grateful to have a strong support system.
Heather
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