the advocate stops a tantrum

there was once a boy and every where he went he wore a purple bandanna . the boy was a good boy mostly when he really wanted something he could tell someone, he protected and annoyed his little sister in proper amounts. but some times this boy with the purple bandanna would not get his way or plans would change. when this happen he knew exactly what to do. HE HUFFS AND TAKES A DEEP BREATHE RAISING A FOOT TO STOMP THE GROUND. PREPARED TO THROW HIS BODY DOWN. HE WOULD SCREAM AND RAGE AND LET THE WHOLE WORLD KNOW THAT HE WAS UNHAPPY AND MAD. That the big brother with the purple bandanna had not gotten his way. one day the purple bandanna boy and his family were out they were going to spend the day at the park but his mother got a call and plans changed he was not going to the park now they would have to go some other day. then it began the MAD SCREAM BUBBLE in the bandanna boys chest the bubble grew . IT WAS NOT FAIR HE WANTED TO PLAY AT THE PARK ALL DAY. The bubble grew he had to huff. MOM SAID WE COULD THE WHOLE FAMILY WAS GOING . he knew he would have to stomp . THE WHOLE DAY IS RUINED. He may have to throw himself on the floor but just as the purple bandanna boy was going to pop the MAD SCREAM BUBBLE with his scream he was it on the horizon a helmet could it be ? the figure came closer. As he did the boy knew they were a pair the in the helmet and he. he this boy could understand the need to scream when life was unfair. when the advocate finally stood next to him the boy thought he would huff and raise his foot. but the advocate only spoke " why must you stomp and scream? why must you make a scene?" he paused for a moment then spoke again "with your sister here no less. Is this the example a big brother should set?"
the boy was silient in the MAD SCREAM BUBBLE while he thought.

after a few momonets the advocate SAid there IS "another way use your words and the bubble melts away. i know it is hard when the world sucks but it helps to say "that sucks can we go another day" Try it with me take a deep breathe then say "that sucks maybe another day." ten times can you count to ten?

1 the bubble faded
2 it wobbled
3 was it lighter
4 his vision cleared
5 half way there
6 nearly disapeared
7 almost there
8 leting go
9 making way
10 That sucks mom can we do it another day?

The boy with the purple bandanna had done it he melted the bubble away he was a good big brother today an examle to follow . the agent tipped his helemt and wlked away.

the agent helps with meds

there once was a girl she had to take medication everyday. she hated it. the medicine tasted gross and it felt weird in her mouth. her mom and dad told her she needed it it would help her . she did not care it was gross. she would refuse to take it , no matter how the medication helped she would not take it.
then could it be on the horizon yes there it was a helmet. the shadow grew bigger and bigger. until their could be no doubt.it was the advocacy agent. she knew why he was here she knew he would agree with her mom and dad. she should take her medicine. but she still refused. the agent used his speech devise and explained "I take medicine to, i have seizures with out my medicine i could not of grown to be what i am an agent for advocacy. If i do not take my medicine i can not help myself or others."
she understood she knew this was true. she did feel stronger when she took her medicine. the agent asked her if she wanted to get stronger , if she wanted to help herself grow and become the best she could be. SHE knew she did. finally she understood she needed her medicine to become strong. so she took her medication and began to become the best she could be .she would not refuse again.

THE AGENT ADDRESSES POTTY TRAINING

there once was a funny boy. sometimes he did things because he was not suppose to because it was funny. one funny thing he did was throw his glass on the floor. another funny thing he did was potty his pants right after sitting on the potty. The boy did because his mom got all upset and told him how he had to grow up and start doing things on his own. the boy was not sure he was ready to grow up yet. so the boy kept doing funny things and choosing to not grow up.
then one day his mom said it was time to go potty. this time he would just wait he would not even go to the bathroom this time. while he was waiting he saw it on the horizon. no could it really be? yes there it was helmet. the helmet grew bigger and the i figure came closer and there he was "the agent". the agent did not speak. but the boy knew. it was time he had to grew up a little. he knew he had to stand up a and go potty. he knew that it was not about his mom . he knew it was about him and showing pride in himself. it was about liking himself well enough to not potty his pants.he needed to do it not for his mom but for him. so the agent and the boy went potty together laughing the whole way. because they both new that only girls potty in groups. but this was an advocacy celebration. so together they went. the boys mom cried with pride.

The advocacy agent

there was once a boy who was learning to walk. he was weaker then most boys his age it took longer for him to do everything. it took one year before he could sit up , it took two years before he could crawl. he was nine now and walking was his next task. the boy had been learning to walk for a long time at first it was only steps one then two then he could walk a hallway then he could walk four hundred feet . now he had a new system one where he could walk every where in his house, there were bars and poles everywhere so the boy would only have to take 20 steps without something to hold on to. he tried to use the system a few times but he was scared. he did not want to fall so he chose to only use it when his trainer was there are on really good days. the boys mother told him use the poles, walk, grow my son. but still he was afraid. mostly he was afraid to fall. but there came a day when the boy grew brave he knew today he walk by himself today he walk and grow. so crawled over to the bar. reached up with one hand and grabbed the bar, tightly his little fist closed he pulled himself up. soon the boy was standing, next he took a step, then he took two soon he had walked the hallway along the bar. this was easy. it was the part he knew he could do. the next part stopped him with fear. could he let go could he walk those steps all alone? could he take a step on his own? he took one step. then BOOM!!!!! he fell like a tree in the woods. the boy struggled for breath and he was mad and afraid, but mostly he was okay. so after some time he pulled himself up again . after all when had he ever done something the first time he tried. so once again he let go he took one step then he took two , then BOOOMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
down he fell this time he thought he was really hurt but it was only his pride. he wanted to walk he wanted to be free to run. so with out much tears he pulled himself up to began again. this time he walked three steps before the BOOM!

then the boy laid there and cried he would not try any more this was to hard who needs to walk any way. he just cried and cried he was giving up he would not walk ever again. as the boy looked up he saw shadow it looked so far away but in the silhouette what did the boy see no could it be a helmet yes that what it was a helmet appeared on the horizon. at a slow steady space the helmet came closer until finally a young man came to the boy. the boy knew they were the same this young man shared something life was not easy for him either. the young man was silent he only offered his hand just a finger really. the boy knew what to do he grabbed the finger then he pulled himself up then he took one step then two then he walked the hallway. it was not long before the boy was ready for his next step because he was a walking boy now. and the boy could only thank the advocate for his hand for the help up so that he could find the strength to walk. so that one day he could grow and be the young man who helps a boy to walk.

lets prey

this week a special needs child died in our community.
So i feel like discussing my worst fear.

Today as i watched the ambulance drive away all i could do was prey

dear god please please let him be strong enough to stay.

please let him grow stronger then yesterday
please let him be okay let bring him back to just
for a few more days of play

dear god but if your choice is a more chalanging path please help me

if you deciede he should have more burdens to keep his life
please please help please help me to let him go

please give me the peice of mind to know
you had to take him so he could finish growing
please let me, some how know he is the butterfly i knew he could be

please dear god what ever you choose
just give me the stregth to carry trough

but if i can make a request just a small one

please don't increase challanges our plates are full
he needs to grow independent he needs to stand on his own
please god help me to see your will done
please god grant me stregth
amen
and i prey again and agian as i follow the ambulance
to the hospital

so today i am going to send a email to the head of the mayors committee .
this email will out line my rock star wish for the Cheyenne universal park .
but i just thought it might be fun to introduce it to the world first.
SO PHASE ONE

TINK'S HOUSE on the ACRE GARDEN
This will be one acre of land maintained and land scaped by the Special Needs Advocacy Agency. the agency will apply for funding to build the following structures a universal green house, a tool shed, a fairy fountain(sprinkler park), the puzzle wall, and the secret stair step garden. this garden will be designed to allow wheelchair access so any one can plant . the agency would donate the structure and gardens to the city but would like to lease or rent it to host the special needs gardening club a summer program designed to teach everyday skills like care for a living thing , maintaining records, responsibility to something other then themselves, and several other skills for indepent living and employment. i propose the entire one acre is maintained by special needs individuals through a volunteer program or employment programs . the first phase would also include all pathways to other areas of the park the path ways should be marked with street signs so that special needs children and unchallenged children can learn to be more independent in community and public forums.

PHASE TWO

phase two would be PIRATES COVE an adaptive play park. this park in my vision would have two halves the bow and the stern all shipwrecked with two other major features a crocodile clock tower , and a mermaid cove ( o rock structure with a climbing wall on one side and a secret WC entrance on the other.) all of this could be on blue gravel with plank like side walks connecting it .the bow and the stern would be double Decker structures with games like pirates hang man, a jail for tag or seek and find games, there could be a crows nest but the only way to get their is walk the stairs, there could be pulleys and hand bike pedals everywhere for endless therapeutic opportunity the possibilities are endless really all along the out side of the boat could be several methods of entrance stairs ramp pole netting ropes. the upper decks could have a wheel and a look out post
the crocodile clock tower could be used to count time for any number of games hide and seek and could also include look out post. the clock could be wind to 100 count down OR any number under
mermaids cove could have look out also with climbing rocks and wall. the WC secret entrance would lead to look out.
We could twice a month call a spy or covert operations day in PIRATES COVE and set up a day of quite spy like games for kids who get over stimulated or kids who wants to play with us quietly.
we could also Host a pirates day with all to proceeds going to put one or two pieces of universal equipment in every Cheyenne park.

PHASE THREE (my personal favorite)
the lost boys adaptive play tree house .
I imagine this to be a four to five level structure twenty feet off the ground at it highest point an engineering marvel that is entirely WC accessible the different levels incorporate different duties like a mess hall the bunks, the hatching a plan room, main hall, captains or Peter quarters, and so on these rooms would be designed to utilize multiple therapy opportunities like chalk boards in planning room, one whole wall with draws and pulls of compartments, games that can be changed with the seasons in the wall these games would be at multiple heights for versatility, once again the possibilities are endless.this is a place i want to have my kids bday i want him to be captain for the day,

the entire park would be both hand rail and WC friendly. so if your kiddo just needs a hand they have it or if the just need a wider space it is there. the whole park will be signed for both rules of safety end play and also the path marked. the idea of the park is to not shoot form the rooftops for special needs kids but to build a place for all children to run and play in a new adaptive way