WELCOME TO JIM'S AUTISM BLOG





Hi everyone and thanks for visiting our blog. My wife and I created this blog to chronicle our experience while raising a son with Asperger's syndrome. Since our son was diagnosed with an ASD at age 5, we've had a lot of questions. Lucky for us we have a great support network in place. And our blog gives us an opportunity to share what we've learned with our readers. We hope you find our blog informative and interesting. Thanks again for visiting.


"It seems that for success in science and art, a dash of autism is essential." Dr Hans Asperger 1906-1980



Wednesday 29 May 2013

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.




2 comments:

  1. Pictures are a great idea. My son use to get in the shower and spend at least 30 minutes and come out still stinky. Finally when he was 10 or 11 and too old for me to be showing him how to bathe I told him he wasn't getting out until he soaped up. I checked him every time he got out (and he was still stinky of course) and sent him back in with instructions on what he needed to clean. After about 4 times he came out clean. I didn't even think about maybe he just didn't know what to do since I had told/shown him at least 1 billion times in over 5 years or more. I wish I had known about a flow chart with pictures back then and also knew he had Aspergers instead of treating him like an NT. Might not have taken so long or been such a headache! Hope the pictures work for Jacob!

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    1. That's what we seem to be facing now too. Often we'll have to give Jacob reminders on what order to do things plus occasional prompts. Hopefully when we get the flow chart, it'll help Jacob be more independent during bath time. Because I don't know what's going to happen when Jacob starts showering.

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