INDEPENDENCE (DURING BATH TIME) AND ASPERGERS

Lately, I've been reading a lot of posts about encouraging independence, and the associated stress, in kids with ASDs.  We too worry about these things all the time almost on a daily basis.  Will my son go to college or university?  Will he have a family?  And sometimes we wonder if he'll be able to have a place of his own.

While Jacob is only 9 years old right now, the past decade has flown by and time doesn't seem to be slowing down.  Then when my wife and I talk about how in another 10 years (or another blink), Jacob will be an adult.  gasp!  We become very anxious and we hope that we've done all that we could by the time that occurs.  For us, independence seemed to come naturally, as it does for many, but for Jacob, independence takes some practise.

But for now, we're still focusing on the little things, like encouraging Jacob to bathe on his own.  Normally we have to give Jacob reminders in what order to wash things.  But now he likes the door shut and the fan on when bathing, so prompting him is a little more difficult.  Lately we've been giving Jacob complete privacy while bathing.  But a couple times when we've asked him if he's nearly done bathing, he actually hasn't started because, as he puts it, "I don't know what to do next?"

So we asked Jacobs autism worker to create a flow chart with pictures that's water proof so we can hang it in the bathroom across from the tub.  Hopefully this will encourage Jacob to be independent during bath time, because we as neurotypical people, take this for granted.  While people like Jacob, may need some simple reminders to help him focus.

It seems simple, but often enough, simple works.  Once it's completed we'll implement it immediately, and we'll be sure to take a picture and share it.  Because I wish I'd began using these charts a long time go.  But we can't dwell on the past.  So we keep moving forward, because our young son does too.