help with a course please

[sabhb]

happy holidays to everyone!!
my name is sabrena and i am hoping for some help on a course i am doing. i am enrolled in a special needs assistant course (my son who has aspergers is my inspiration). my assisgnment is to describe strategies used to promote independance, mobility and self-esteem for a child with a physical disability. any feedback, ideas, suggestions would be greatly appriciated! i would also like to apologize to anyone that might take offense to my using this site to help me with this course.

[Barb]

I am willing to help but I will be out of town this next week. Send me a PM with what you need :)

[sabhb]

thank you!!!
information i need for assignment is: what stratagies have you used to promote mobility? say, using leg braces or wheelchair assistance (if they are even needed), things done around the house or school that would help with mobility. stratagies to promote independance and self-esteem? again, i am wondering what ideas/things/actions taken, may have been modified, or improved to able more independance, and what groups of peers, interests, hobbies to promote self-esteem? i really appriciate your help and thank you again for your time. sincerely, sabrena

[Barb]

No problem. I will do the best I can and maybe someone else can help as well.

what stratagies have you used to promote mobility? say, using leg braces or wheelchair assistance (if they are even needed), things done around the house or school that would help with mobility. stratagies to promote independance and self-esteem? again, i am wondering what ideas/things/actions taken, may have been modified, or improved to able more independance, and what groups of peers, interests, hobbies to promote self-esteem? i really appriciate your help and thank you again for your time. sincerely, sabrenaWe started C in a physical therapy program at 6 weeks old. Starting at about 6 months C used AFO (ankle-foot bracing) to help straighten his feet. We used a stander to help him learn to bear weight. He had bilateral tendon transfers at 2 in his ankles and feet. He began using a walker around the age of 2 1/2. He began to walk independently with bracing around 3 1/2. He had a 'ready racer' which is a toddler wheelchair at 2-3. Probably around 3 1/2-4 he got his first real wheelchair. He is 9 and is now using his third chair. PT was continued at home until he was school age and then he had PT at school. We have tried wheelchair sports for his self esteem but he doesn't like it. We have encouraged his love of animation, music and imagination to help him eventually have him pursue some sort of career in this field. He has always had a strong peer support network and I think that growing up with a close group has helped because he never was seen as really different. All the kids just knew that is how C does things. He has an older brother which helped tremendously in terms of motivation to keep up with him :)
If that brought up more questions than answers feel free to ask more :)

[kali]

hi and welcome, I dont mind helping but I gave my child physcial therapy at home, I would rup his little legs down about 5 times a day with a little warm olive oil, and massage until his cold legs became warm. then I would exercise his legs and feet, wrap him up warm.he sat up at 10 months, and crawled at 1year and half, and was walking by hisself at 4 years old , without braces, although today when he leaves the house he does wear short ankle braces to give hism more support and protect his feet. as for self esteem, I found it was best to treat him no different then his brother and sisters. Today he is full of self confidence and at times I really think he doesnt think he is any different then the other boys his age. He is just full of personality, thank God

[kali]

hi again , i also wanted to say since he was young we always gave him crayons and paper, he became so creative with his pictures, that today (he is 9 years old) he loves to write and draw in his spare time. His teachers at school (regular public school)always comment how beautiful his hand writing is. anyways if you have more questions I dont mind! kali

[grandma Pat]

Am sort of new- don't know if I should jump in but.... Tricia was taught that a handicapped person is unable to do certain things and that if she can do things (just differently) she is not handicapped. We used Pt from early childhood intervention and she was walking with walkerand later quad canes even though neuro said she would not (she is a stubborn child). Due to severe medical neglect for a year when she was with mom 2 hours away from here she is back to square one with walking (and other issues)but is determined to do it.We have been honest about all her med porblems (except her gender issue) and always give her control over as much as she can. her doctors have always talked to her about her surgeries and medical problems rather than to us and listen to her input and expressed fears.We adapt games at home so she can particiapte in some way and this year she is playing sled hockey. She has more enthusiasm than ability but thinks she is a hot shot and that is all we care about. It is great for upper body strength. Her goal in life is to learn to levitate and she is stubborn enough to try to figure out how!

[Barb]

Of course you should jump in. Thanks for adding to the conversation.

[Spokie]

Am sort of new- don't know if I should jump in but.... Tricia was taught that a handicapped person is unable to do certain things and that if she can do things (just differently) she is not handicapped....Her goal in life is to learn to levitate and she is stubborn enough to try to figure out how!


It's good if they're stubborn!! Much better than giving up. My son's school concentrates on teaching the children alternative ways of doing stuff; their motto being: with a little more effort, anything's possible.

We as parents might play an important role in their paths to independence, but they themselves also play major parts in the lives of every person they meet. They turn out to be inspirational - giving us hope and boosting our own levels of competence, just by watching them fight and win! The more they learn, the more we learn!

So go, Tricia - up, up and away!! Second star to the right and straight on till morning!