The circle of individuals that make up what I affectionately refer to as “Jack’s Team” has greatly expanded over the past year.  We went from one SLP, one OT, and a special instructor to two private OTs, two private SLPs, one private PT, a special instructor, a teacher, one (or two) para-pros, a school SLP, a school OT, and a school PT.

Needless to say, the holidays are going to be an expensive venture in this house.

Each of these individuals has a different style, a different routine, and they all work on different things.  It makes for an interesting dynamic between Jack and each of these individuals.  For the most part, I think he likes everyone.  The problem is that he doesn’t like everything that they do.

I need to make a confession on my boy’s behalf, because what his brain doesn’t allow him to verbalize, his behavior gives him away each time – OT isn’t exactly his favorite school activity.

In a way, I totally get it.  The kid is a sensory creature through and through.  When he goes to private therapy, it’s a sensory wonderland prior to getting down to the “work” aspect – the fine-motor component – that my boy despises.  Does he despise it, too.  He hates using his hands.  He doesn’t independently feed.  He is just starting to scribble, but he won’t choose to do it by any means.  His dyspraxia and weak grasp causes him much grief indeed and he’d rather just avoid using his hands, thank you very much.

What he can’t verbalize in words in terms of his hatred for all things fine-motor, you see in stimming and screaming.  Sensory-motor activities in the way of swinging, sliding, and – his most recent favorite – crashing into a crash pad are all on tap prior to the hard stuff. …continue reading