AD transferred to the DAC in the fall of 2009. He had been having difficulty staying on task and was not interested in coming to work. His mother was having a struggle everyday trying to get him up and going so he would meet the bus on time. He had difficulty initiating activity so if he was not supervised he would just sit or engage in inappropriate behaviors and then get into trouble with staff or other clients at his present work site.
The DAC staff knew that he needed supervision because of his short term memory loss and his inability to initiate tasks. They worked with him individually when he was given a new work project. As he learned the task they faded support and as his confidence grew he showed interest in the work and was succeeding on his own. He knew the staffs were available so if he wanted help they could give it to him. This decreased his fear of making mistakes and increased his desire to want to succeed and be productive. He is now interested in a placement in the community and has shown the DAC staff that he could be dependable and successful with such a placement.
He has also become a favorite of many other DAC clients. He has a great sense of humor and is always playing tricks on clients and staff. He has shown kindness and friendship to several clients who have behavioral challenges which sometimes alienates them from others. He comes into work in the morning in a positive mood and helps to motivate others who may need a boost in their spirits that day.
The DAC is very proud of AD and his accomplishments over the last few months. We see a very bright future for him and know that our continued support is very important to him as he continues to grow in his confidence and work skills.