Mike, our behavior therapist, came by today to explain how he wants me to begin implementing the picture rewards. The pictures we are starting with are Moose from Nick Jr, our dog Annie, the wading pool, and my car. Mike took all of these pictures and cut them in half. He then gave her 3 items and asked her to put each of them inside a bucket. When she did that, he gave her half of the Moose picture. He waited a few minutes and then had her do it again, praised her and then gave her the second half of the picture. Then we put Moose on tv so she could watch it. I can use these reinforcers however I want - in a therapy type setting like we did today with work, or I can give her the first half as a reward for any type of good behavior. I decide what the reinforcer is based on what I feel like doing, and I also control the time frame between her getting both pieces. It's all about Raquel associating good behaviors with getting preferred items, and me being the one in charge. Consistency is key, so Mike, Gabby & my respite worker will need to be on the same page.
What I can't do with this reward system is take away the first piece once it's been given to her if she starts to act up, and I can't give her a piece as a reward for following my directions if she was attempting a forbidden behavior. For example: her trying to turn on the stove and me telling her not to. I can't give her a piece for not doing it because then she'll know that all she has to do is go to the stove, wait for me to say no, and then not do it and get a piece. And trust me, Raquel is a smart, manipulative little girl. She would have that one down in NO time!!
Next week, we will review todays procedures, make changes if needed, and then he wants to start addressing the behavioral issues. Today, I had to give her the meds right when he got here and she unfortunately started having her reactions to them and got very tired and woozy. She did really seem to enjoy working again and I am so happy about that. I also think that her having a male therapist is going to be a great thing. She's so used to associating the work with the ABA Team of wonderful women we had on a daily basis. By coming weekly, it's like she has a new playmate. And although very familiar with ABA, he's trying to make it a bit different than that even though it will still be very structured. At one point today, we were sitting on the floor and he was explaining the reward procedures to me. Raquel came and sat right with us and watched us talk and had a big smile on her face. Typically during therapy, she would throw a fit when I would engage in a conversation with the therapist since she wasn't the focus of the attention. I was proud of her letting us talk today.
Raquel is still having these episodes. I know that Dr. Mower said I shouldn't freak out, but that's easy for him to say. It continues to be extremely difficult to watch - to the point where Mike told me I shouldn't take her inside stores anymore. And they are concerning. When complete strangers come up to me and ask if I need help, there is a concern. So, I called Rady Children's Hospital this morning and asked for us to be on the cancellation list for the 24-hour inpatient video EEG. The sooner this gets done, the better. I don't want to wait until August unless I absolutely have to. Plus, if Landau-Kleffner Syndrome is ruled out and she's given an Autism diagnosis, she qualifies for more services.
I also left a message for Dr. Mower to call me regarding the blood tests he has written up. He wants these taken before her second dose which is typically around 2pm. If you're familiar with the lab at Children's Hospital, you know that it's not a place that you can ever zip in and out of. Because her medication is an anti-convulsant that needs to be administered at a specific time, I called the lab to see if there was a way to get an appointment. No such luck. Instead, I was told that I needed to check in 2 hours before I would give her the meds - their typical lunch time waiting period - which puts me at the lab at noon!! Not a good thing, especially when you factor in the parking situation as well. I am hoping that I can do this test before her first dose. If so, I can be there when they open at 7:30am. If not, I am going to see if he can transfer the order up here to Palomar Hospital instead.
Last weekend, Mike and I attended a 100-mile car run that was put on by the San Diego Panteras Club. The proceeds this year went towards the Wounded Warriors Foundation. We overheard the main guy telling someone that next year, it looks like it will be about Autism. When we were leaving, we went up to his wife and told her about Raquel. She immediately introduced us to a member of the club that has a 13-year old Autistic son. We exchanged contact information and he said I definitely need to be in contact with his wife, that they've tried everything, almost had to put him in an institution because he was so difficult, but now he's doing much better. It's great when you are able to meet others that have gone through and overcome some of the challenges.
Here's a picture we took the night before the race when Mike took Gabby to Crusin' Grand.
What I can't do with this reward system is take away the first piece once it's been given to her if she starts to act up, and I can't give her a piece as a reward for following my directions if she was attempting a forbidden behavior. For example: her trying to turn on the stove and me telling her not to. I can't give her a piece for not doing it because then she'll know that all she has to do is go to the stove, wait for me to say no, and then not do it and get a piece. And trust me, Raquel is a smart, manipulative little girl. She would have that one down in NO time!!
Next week, we will review todays procedures, make changes if needed, and then he wants to start addressing the behavioral issues. Today, I had to give her the meds right when he got here and she unfortunately started having her reactions to them and got very tired and woozy. She did really seem to enjoy working again and I am so happy about that. I also think that her having a male therapist is going to be a great thing. She's so used to associating the work with the ABA Team of wonderful women we had on a daily basis. By coming weekly, it's like she has a new playmate. And although very familiar with ABA, he's trying to make it a bit different than that even though it will still be very structured. At one point today, we were sitting on the floor and he was explaining the reward procedures to me. Raquel came and sat right with us and watched us talk and had a big smile on her face. Typically during therapy, she would throw a fit when I would engage in a conversation with the therapist since she wasn't the focus of the attention. I was proud of her letting us talk today.
Raquel is still having these episodes. I know that Dr. Mower said I shouldn't freak out, but that's easy for him to say. It continues to be extremely difficult to watch - to the point where Mike told me I shouldn't take her inside stores anymore. And they are concerning. When complete strangers come up to me and ask if I need help, there is a concern. So, I called Rady Children's Hospital this morning and asked for us to be on the cancellation list for the 24-hour inpatient video EEG. The sooner this gets done, the better. I don't want to wait until August unless I absolutely have to. Plus, if Landau-Kleffner Syndrome is ruled out and she's given an Autism diagnosis, she qualifies for more services.
I also left a message for Dr. Mower to call me regarding the blood tests he has written up. He wants these taken before her second dose which is typically around 2pm. If you're familiar with the lab at Children's Hospital, you know that it's not a place that you can ever zip in and out of. Because her medication is an anti-convulsant that needs to be administered at a specific time, I called the lab to see if there was a way to get an appointment. No such luck. Instead, I was told that I needed to check in 2 hours before I would give her the meds - their typical lunch time waiting period - which puts me at the lab at noon!! Not a good thing, especially when you factor in the parking situation as well. I am hoping that I can do this test before her first dose. If so, I can be there when they open at 7:30am. If not, I am going to see if he can transfer the order up here to Palomar Hospital instead.
Last weekend, Mike and I attended a 100-mile car run that was put on by the San Diego Panteras Club. The proceeds this year went towards the Wounded Warriors Foundation. We overheard the main guy telling someone that next year, it looks like it will be about Autism. When we were leaving, we went up to his wife and told her about Raquel. She immediately introduced us to a member of the club that has a 13-year old Autistic son. We exchanged contact information and he said I definitely need to be in contact with his wife, that they've tried everything, almost had to put him in an institution because he was so difficult, but now he's doing much better. It's great when you are able to meet others that have gone through and overcome some of the challenges.
Here's a picture we took the night before the race when Mike took Gabby to Crusin' Grand.
Mike wanted boys at first but has seen first hand that girls enjoy to hike, fish - and love the hot rods, too!
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