grommet
Well-Known Member
Grommet, we have executive functioning challenges. It's got nothing to do with intelligence!
It has more to do with a combination of dyspraxia (in short, this means our bodies don't always work the way we want them to, we're a bit clumsy/awkward, and ...
I have these, called Picture Schedules or Visual Schedules, to help me get through my day.
Though with my visual schedule, it has stuff like go potty, drink water, eat, etc.
Right by my apartment door, I have a visual schedule showing keys, backpack, potty, jacket, pants, snack, and coins for the bus.
Best of luck, I hope this helps!
Thank you very much for your kindness though reading your post I felt my heart break because I do need that much help.
Unfortunately signs or notes aren't as much help for me because I will look right at something and not see it. One day I remembered and forgot five times I had a doctor's appointment and I had it written on my calendar, an email reminder from my digital calendar, two post-its on the wall in my eyeline and I had set several alarms on my watch. It was scary and I felt stupid and helpless.
Because of this thread I went over my bills carefully and found out that though I had been very carefully writing everything down, with dates and notes besides figures, I was still more than $1,000 off. I had no idea and I'm scared not only because once again I see that I can't manage money but also because I have less of it than I thought.
I put on a face when I go out and I don't think people have any idea how in-self-sufficient I am.
I am an aspie who without help I would be homeless. It's not lack of work or frugality or being a good person, it's just that I cannot manage on my own. If I had a million dollars I wouldn't know if I had $10,000. Being helpless in such an important way is frightening but I have made it this far and I will have to use hope and just keep trying to make it as long as I can.
To perhaps sum it up, sometimes people ask me if I am hungry and I think very privately to myself, "How would I know?"
Ritual is the only thing that seems to get me by. If I always wake up, eat, and brush my teeth at the same time I am more likely to do those things.
I wish there was an aspie wizard but though wizards are wonderful, they are not real so I will have to do the best I can for myself. I am glad those pictographs help you. They look really neat and I think they would be great, I just think I wouldn't be able to use them.
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