Ds is getting the bus

[streakybacon]

Round about now, ds (11, AS) is getting on the bus to come home from his social skills group, on his own, for the first time.

I'm crapping myself. It's only four stops and he was confident this morning, but you know how it is.

Watching the clock...

AAAhhh bless him, I hope it goes ok. One day I will tell you some great stories about Dd1 on the bus, but not today..
I am sure he will be fine.

He was, home already .

He's buzzing with achievement, bless him.

Metrocentre next week - that's two buses each way. He can't wait .

I think I need a lie down now!

Well done little bacon. It's great to hear stories like this :)

Streaky! :o
omg that's bloody brilliant!

Well done little rasher! :o

( we are yet to brave the bus!)

Thanks guys!

I'm so proud of him. We've been working on independence most of this year and he's doing so well . He's at karate now, walks the 15 mins there across loads of roads and gets changed in the toilets before training. Remembers to pay and everything .

How are you getting on with the DLA form, Arsenic?

Ha haaaa .. :) not too bad.. Dh and I are double teaming it.. I write the first response.. Dh tweaks :)
just going through the really relevant questions in depth. And making sure we are referring to reports as well as showing the personal side! If any of that makes sense!

That great you've been working on independance with little rasher.. We intended to start this over the summer.. But mental and emotional health and extreme behaviour got in the way.. That's almost on keel now.. And dh and I were talking about seeing if ds1 and one of his sensible mates will take ds2 on his first bus trip without an adult..
Soon..
( wibble!!!!).. But roads are still a long long way off!

Glad it went ok for your lad, .

Well done to your DS! Very impressive.

Metrocentre is a scary place, is he going with friends?

Well... he doesn't really have friends outside of HE, and they mostly live in Durham and Newcastle, so he's doing all this entirely on his own. Tbh I think that's better for him - on his own he can remember to stay calm, whereas he'd probably get over-excited if there were others with him.

We've been practicing the Metrocentre for a few months now - we go during the day when it's quiet, started off recognising landmark shops and using the little guide map, then I'd give him a shopping list and send him off to get random things for me and he'd spend some time chatting to the geeks in Games Workshop . He takes a mobile with him so we're in touch if he needs it. He's quite at home at the Metrocentre now (which is why it's first choice for a solo bus run next week), and we're in the middle of practicing with the Metro into Newcastle too

It's really helped him with problem solving too. When he's surrounded by shoppers he can't let himself lose control like he does at home because he'd make a fool of himself, and the more practice he gets at it the more he's likely to do the same in other situations.

Dead proud of him .

Streaky .. You should be so proud of him... And of yourself!.. The amount of work you guys must have put into getting this far..

Honestly, I'm knackered!

I have ME and the one thing that wears me out more than anything is public transport , but it has to be done. If I'd waited for an NAS befriender to help him learn how to use the buses he'd have his pensioner's pass before he'd be allowed out on his own!

Ah well Games Workshop is easy enough to get from the concourse.

He sounds brilliant!