It has been a while and a rollercoaster of a time since the new year. I have had some personal things that have come up and I will not go into detail, but they have really been challenging. However, there are some positive and exciting things going on!
Since the new year, I have been working on helping with a nonverbal autistic boy (H) to be able to be apart of children's church and for his parents to be able to attend the services. This has been interesting and a fun endeavor to try. I was able to meet up with a special education teacher/ (long since retired) to get some ideas since she does a large scale special needs ministry down in NC. I got some ideas and have been slowly navigating them now that H will be consistently attending church. So far, I have been able to get some sensory things and his mom has provided some as well. It is pretty cool to see how it works, as well as how to truly communicate with a nonverbal person. For H, it's a lack of receptive language because he doesn't have the muscle strength/planning to talk (He has been slowly working to say a few things, i.e. hi, but that has been recent). I have also played around with blocks, legos, bubbles, putty, light up balls, etc. Not going to lie, sensory toys are fun! I have also seen great inclusion with including H in the older group of kids and have even explained autism. R's daughter, Sa. has also been willing to help with him, so right now I am trying to figure out how to help her to be able to work with him. I do have some goals of utilizing pictures and a schedule that will go for the entire time. Right now, we have sensory needs that are going smoothly, including touch (this is huge!!!! - it is how he communicates, helps keep him calm, and to have focus), his mom orders putty that help with his fine motor skills, bubbles, & bright colored legos. Sa has been doing great with this.
Not only that but I have also been able to work with pre-k/early elementary school kids. Every week after church, I am asked to take someone or couple of kiddos on an "abventure/adventure". Definitely is some great stress relief after chaotic, long weeks.
In other news, driving is back on the radar. Turns out - I needed some time to deflect what happened last fall and positive encouragement has helped. I was suprised when I had my first lesson after almost three months, I did better, even though I was nervous at first. I know I will unlikely be able to afford a car right off the bat, but a license will make things so much easier when it comes time. Thankfully, I have a patient instructor, R. C. who was willing to let me try again and stay with me through the rough patches as well as now the progress with renewed confidence or sass... and... thankfully, its great know I need to ramble a mile a minute or stimulation to drive well haha..... so no goal date yet and still more practice but it will come time .. and with everything else apparently patience is a virtue.
In other news, still waiting on hearing something on the graduate school end. Dr. Bray has worked on some grants to help secure funding for a thesis research project but it's a struggle to wait on hearing something on acceptance.
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