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Sometimes It’s the Simple Things

May 13, 2008

Sometimes the simplest of things can make a huge difference in a person’s life. For Steven Badger that item is his daily schedule. Steven had already made significant progress at Elim’s Kamp Cottage. Steven was able to perform many of his daily living skills himself but always needed a lot of staff assistance. Steve would need reminders to move on to his next task and again when that task ended he would need more staff input to understand what came next. Steven was making significant steps forward but needed to develop more independence. Then Residential Behavior Specialist Tim Davies devised a personal daily schedule for Steven with recommendations from ACE, including all the things Steven needs to accomplish every day as well as the fun things he enjoys doing. Each activity or task is written in bold face on a cardboard sign along with a picture or PECS symbol to indicate the requirement in pictorial form. The cardboard strips are affixed to the wall with Velcro and as Steven completes each task he can take the sign down and put it away in it’s envelope for tomorrow’s activities. Steven is now able to organize his day without constant staff prompts or assistance. Steven simply looks at the next sign and goes on to complete the next task. Steven is enjoying his new found independence and can often be heard shouting “Yeah Steven!” as he finishes yet another task. Staff have all remarked how well the daily schedule works for Steven and what a difference it has made in his life here at Kamp Cottage.