working on number 4

[LadySaphira]

No not my 4th child, that happened 11 years ago and I will definitely NOT be working on number 5 in that department LOL.

My youngest son is multiply disabled, he has been Dx'd with severe ADHD, moderate SPD, mild MR and PDD-NOS. He also has some mild anxiety issues but has not officially been Dx'd for them. Because of his disabilities, he gets services through our local rehabilitation center and they are great at providing services to help our family with his issues. The procured a weighted blanket for him to help him sleep, they provide respite care if we ever need a sitter and we don't have to pay, they help buy him school cloths and school supplies. They also provide Residential Habilitation for him (Res-Hab).

The Res-Hab worker  sees him 2x a week for 2 hours per visit. The purpose of this is to teach him better social skills, how  to behave appropriately in public, and things like that. And before anyone starts bashing that it is my and my husbands jobs to do all that, WE DO. with kids like Roo though, sometimes mom and dad need a little extra help.

My son, thus far, has been receiving Res-Hab for almost 2 years and yes, we have seen some improvements. He has better eye contact, remembers to say please and thank you more often. We are still working on not interrupting, controlling our temper, ways to deal with stress, and what seems to be billion other things. But all in all he is making some progress and for that I am extremely grateful. I can't help but wonder however, how much more progress he would have made at this point if he didn't keep losing his Res-Hab workers! It is so frustrating.

He will now be getting Res-Hab worker #4. Each one has lasted only around 6 months.  The first, "Joe", transferred to being a aide for disabled kids in our HS. Then came "Stacy", I didn't like her that much and neither did Roo. You can tell in certain situations when someone is just there because "it's a job" and who  actually enjoys helping these children. "Stacy" transferred to another department in the rehabilitation center. Then came "Hank", a fresh out of college, wet behind the ears, worker. A real nice kid, though I am not sure if he was right for the job. It is not that he didn't DO his job, he just didn't seem to be able to do it as effectively as he probably could have. He was also very unorganised, he was always running back to his truck for the paper work we had to sign or losing the paper we had already signed and bringing another one to resign.  Roo absolutely adored him. On Wednesday, Hank got fired because of his disorganisation.  So, now we are on to worker #4 We don't even know who Roo's new worker will be yet, But I wish there was a bit more consistency in the whole thing, 4 workers in 2 years? Is this normal? IDK since I am still kind of green about all this, although I have learned a lot.

Roo is not big on change. He has  difficulty adjusting and it will show up as negative behavior. Sometime he will have a crying or semi-violent (throwing things) melt down, but usually it shows up as defiancy and increased stimming. I also realize that being a Res-Hab worker has got to be stressful at times and they pay most likely stinks. I just wish one would stick around for more than 6 dang months!

[Teresa16135410]

Jan. 16, 2009 at 2:25 PM

I'm sorry to hear that some people bash you for getting out side help. Whats with that?!?! If its avaliable to you then GREAT! I think its good for kids to hear it from more than just mom and dad.

IDK much, to be able to give any real advice. Only a suggestion (and JUST an idea/suggestion) and it would be to present it to Roo as... this IS a part of life. Life IS change, weather we like it or not. Not that he'd care to hear it.  :O)

And HOPEFULLY your next person will be more organized! That seems quite unhelpful!!! It must have been pretty bad for him to get fired! Sorry you and your son had to deal with that!

Good luck

 T