February 26, 2008, Final Dore Evaluation and Certificate

I just got fabulous news from DS's tutor. I received a call from her last night to report 1Kid's dad called to cancel the session, because 1Kid "didn't have anything to do," despite carrying a 1.67 (4.0 being tops) average. Dad got an earful and took him over. Anyway, 1Kid's tutor said that last night, HE took the initiative to ask her if she would work with him on her computer with his school's grading site (the site where his grades and assignments are posted and to work with him getting it all together with his agenda, organization, etc. This......is a HUGE step for him, and I got goosebumps and tears started rolling when she was telling me this. I think the time is here for him to realize he's got a lot to loose if he does not get motivated and take the steps needed with his agenda and assignments, tho the work he does and turns in is absolutely fabulous, his missing assignments have brought him down sooooo very far. He already got a letter from the track coach that he's off the team if he doesn't get grades up - by today, and he has an interview next week with the head of the teen workshop program that he attended last summer, only as a peer leader. He needs to keep a C average, and I told him that they are looking for leaders that are responsible, and grades are the best indicator of the kind of person they are looking for. So, this week must have gotten the cogs turning. She didn't do anything different than what I do when I work with him, but it's coming from someone else, which is what he needs, and he was very brave and vulnerable to ask for help (male ego??). I had earlier today also called the agency to see about arranging an ADHD coach, but with his motivation and some of the executive functions starting to come in and work for him, perhaps he may not need it.

I am very happy and so proud of 1Kid

This is one of 1Kid's final exercises this week before his assessment later this week.
At his assessment, he had also reached the completion phase of the treatment. He will go for one week with only one exercise in the AM and the PM each; the next week every other day; the third week 2 or 3 days; then off for three weeks, then back for the final visit. In other words, he goes back in, in six weeks again, three weeks of wind-down sets, then three weeks of no sets at all.

It was nice to have him watch the video of himself that he can see his head movement and hand positions during the sets (because he often does not believe the coach!).

1Kid, this past week, has been consistently remembering more of what he needs to do from day to day, plan ahead a little more, think ahead, and remember more from a few days ago. Today during his assessment, he actually remembered an exercise he had a question on that I had forgotten about, and is reminding me of things. This is all really unusual for him, and is not mood-related, like sometimes his concentration/focus issues have been. So, yes, I can say that some of those executive functions do seem to be coming in, which I did have my doubts of. I guess good things DO come to those who wait!

Dore on the Go

We just returned from our 9 day vacation to California. We drove, 1Kid played on his DS, and rode the rides at Disneyland with no motion/car-sickness. Compared to the baseline response when we drove 2 1/2 years ago when he did have these symptoms, I am very happy that Dore has dealt with these issues for 1Kid in the process.

I am also happy that we achieved 100% compliance while on the trip, though we did leave for our drive home so early and still in the morning daze that we left the clock poster and playing card still taped to the hotel wall!