Inventory#2 continued

I actually veered off the subject I intended on the last post so for this one it is going to be more Direct and focused.

Dakota's most frustrating and challenging deficit is the lack of Self-motivational Skills. This child absolutely needs someone around 24/7 to keep him motivated to do anything. He needs visual ques and verbal prompting on everything from taking his shoes off before he hits the bed to being reminded that he needs to go in the bathroom and relieve his bladder---He has motor planning and fine motor issues and he will not engage in doing papers or homework uless you sit down right next to him and often times he requires "hand over" prompting to JUST pick up a pencil much less use it>He will not eat anything that is not put in front of him as a meal or presented to him as a snack --we have one shelf designated for him to utilize on his own and for over 2 to 3 years he has yet to take one thing off that shelf. he will not complete a trip to the bathroom without my assistance -- I have developed an extensive dialog about him taking care of himself and how important it is for him to have practice and the more he tries the better he will get at it but it just doesn't seem to make sense to him.He will answer a phone but then refuse to speak to the person on the other end-- sometimes you can put the phone on speaker and he will perhaps mumble one or two words but for the most part he only wants to answer it not talk on it! Oh the list goes on-----I have tried to get him to walk for exercise -- it took him to the track and he walked four laps and said I m done so I figured well that's a mile we will come back tomorrow or the next day --HA HAHe refused to go saying he already did that---

Other things that are equally challenging are things like the fact that he does not swallow pills he chews them and once he get a taste that's it then you have to figure how your will get him to take it the second day--- He cannot blow his nose he has absolutely no concept how to make his nose blow out the mucus-- he fakes a blow by putting the Kleenex up to his nose then blowing out his mouth. He will not shower himself-- I think its because he cannot stand the feel of the shampoo and soap a tactile issue and he will help with the teeth but I recently added mouthwash as a pre-cursor so i have to assist with that task as well--although I learned many years ago that it can all be done in the shower at one time so the shower becomes a one stop shop---

His OCD has over taken the Autism to a certain extent--- the routine and schedule of performing certain tasks are much more important that stimmimg or repetitious behavior--- that's another one to drive you to the funny farm!

He will not go to bed on his own either--another item I feel like I have been working on forever-- I cannot say ok Dakota go get your PJ's on and get in bed --as long as I am up he is up and he will not lay down in bed without someone laying down with him--- i think he needs to know that the day has ended which means everybody down not just him.

Well I think for now that is enough update but will continue to expound on other issues as they come to mind