ABA Week 5 and an "Interview with a Big Sister"

Well the last week I talked about how the evening tutor wasn't really working out for our family. He is a super nice guy but just wasn't right for us. I thought really hard and prayed about it all weekend I needed to make the right decisions for our family. I decided he just wasn't a good fit for us so I emailed Rachel the Supervisor with Capitol Autism and told her I wanted him removed from Joseph's case, this was on Monday. We didn't have services that day due to the holiday, on Tuesday afternoon I still hadn't heard from her so I called her, no answer. I ended up calling the main office to tell them I didn't want the tutor back out and to make sure everyone knew because I did not want him there that evening. Wouldn't you know it Rachel called me within minutes after I placed the call to the office. She went on to tell me that she was very sorry about everything that happened and notifying me of Friday's not working out was inappropriate of the evening tutor. She offered to do a 30 day plan where we would keep him as our tutor but he couldn't miss any scheduled shifts for 30 days. I told her I had felt he already had a 30 day trial and failed and honestly did not want him back at my home. She rearranged the day time tutors whom we love, Misty and Cheryl so they are now both the day and evening shift. Everything has worked out perfectly all last week, Joseph is thriving and we are set with our tutors.

I honestly can say this week 100% ABA therapy has completely changed my son. He is thriving so well and with the right people in his life I know for sure my son is going to be the best Joseph ever. He is understanding me, communicating with me, and just excelling. Everyday he is learning something new and him learning to communicate his wants and needs is making him and I both less frustrated. Joseph has always been such a happy baby and little boy now, with that said his whole demeanor is so much happier if you have met my son you couldn't ever imagine him being more sweet, loving, and happy but he is.

Seeing Joseph's progress honestly this week just melts the ice around my heart that formed the day Joseph was diagnosed. Yes even months later, my heart aches every single day for my son. To see the struggle when I look in his eyes and he so badly wants to tell me what he wants it really freezes my heart, just like an ice cube burns your hand that is what it feels like for me when I see my son struggle. OK enough of the heart ache because with heart ache comes warmth and love as I did this week with both of my kids. Jocelynn, Joseph's big sister who recently started high school agreed to do an interview with me for my blog. I wanted to honestly sit down with her and get her take on what she sees and has gone through since her little brother was diagnosed. My sister suggested video tapping it but it was too late but did agree I will do one in months to come because it's one thing to read it but to see her talk will be another. She is such a great big sister and heavily involved in Joseph's life and part of his success. I agreed with her that I would include everything she said, no editing because I don't agree as I want this to be a "honest" interview. So you will see quite of bit of "like" because those are her words. After you read the interview feel free to comment at the bottom I love hearing feed back. Also at the very bottom are some recent videos so you can see Joseph in action himself.


Interview with Jocelynn, 14 years old:

First Thoughts about Joseph's Diagnosis?
I wasn't really paying attention just worried about Joseph getting hurt with the things at the doctor's office like the table.

How about once you realized the diagnosis and what it meant?
At first I was like didn't really believe it because of my mental beliefs.

What made you think Joseph wasn't autistic?
Because he didn't really act like it because most autistic kids are like, don't interact.

Did you notice that he used to say words and then stopped?
It didn't really come to me like "oh my gosh its such a problem"

What happened to change your mind?
Probably when like we started going to speech therapy the reality of it like oh my gosh we have to do these things.

What is the hardest thing about having a sibling with autism?
We don't get privacy because of all the people in the house 24/7

How has our life changed since his diagnosis?
Probably like we don't go places as much, don't do a lot of things. Like, we can't really go anywhere because people are coming and going. Like Friday you couldn't pick me up from the football game because Joseph has therapy. I want to be able to go to the game because Joseph has his time and I want mine.

Are you jealous of the amount of time and attention he gets?
Extremely.

Why if you know we are doing it to help him, not to take time away from you?
I don't know. Because I can't come home and talk with you about guys in peace.

How is Joseph different today from when he was first diagnosed?
He is like taller, he can like say stuff, umm OK like it's easier to take him places most recently. But he doesn't dance with me anymore, its just not fair.

What do you think is  the most significant thing you have taught him yourself?
Oh everything, I taught him everything he knows. Seriously, I did teach him how to use a spoon. He is using it for pudding but I had him using it with chicken nuggets. Oh and his dance moves.

When we are in public what do you think others think of Joseph?
That he is like any other kid, you can't judge a book by its cover

Are you embarrassed that your brother is autistic?
No.

Does it bother you?
No I think its cool.

Why is it cool?
Just cause like most autistic kids are really smart so like one day I might end up saying my brother is smarter than me.

How do you think it has affected me?
Affected you a lot, you let these people you don't know into your home and make sure Joseph gets what he needs out of the them like their help. You have to trust them to do their job when you aren't here. You have to make it within your schedule.

Who do you think has made the biggest impact in the success we have seen so far with Josephs communication?
Monica the speech therapist even though she is only here once a week, me you and Dad too.

What would you like people to know about autism?
To get as much help as possible.

Why?
So the child has what he or she needs to be successful and independent later in life.

What are some things you have learned from this experience with Joe Joe? (auntie's question)
Umm, like to take everything seriously. Don't take everything as a joke. I learned that don't waste time, like cause the people come over for all this time so they obviously do it for a reason they do stuff with him to better him.

What do you notice is different from high school kids and middle school kids since you've started high school..pros and cons and how it has affected you? (auntie's questions)
Like what I have noticed is that the way girls dress, I don't know a word for it without it being bad. Some people are really nice and you can like meet new people that are nice. A con is like sometimes you will lose a friend because you don't talk as much or see them or have a class with them.  But a pro is definitely there are more guys.



"Picnic"

"New Words"

"PECS with Mommy"