Yes that kind of a "moment" makes sewing special. And how nice it happened to you. Thanks for sharing. Bud

That was a special moment for you and that little girl will always remember the special things people do for her and someone actually paid attention to her.

When my family inherited an ADHD child at age 4, my cousins, sister and I made a point to always say hello and include him in conversations and activities to make him feel welcomed into the family--it can be pretty overwhelming for anyone new to a family of gregarious people. He has told his mother on numerous occasions how grateful he is we did that for him.

Frankly, it can be overwhelming and boring for any child when no other children their age are around and it's all older children and adults so they feel rather lost in the situation. I know I did because many of my cousins were much older than me despite their best efforts at times to amuse me...the other side of the family was different as we were all about the same age and I reacted differently. Now that we are all on an adult level, some graying more than others, my whole reaction is different because we all discuss and participate in the same things.

The best way to interact with a not-that-yet-verbal young cousin, special needs or not, is to actually participate in an activity together and pay attention to them. If you try that with her, I think you will get a different reaction beyond the head down and ignoring.

That little girl is very smart! She already has people on a Behavior Modification program. She ignores them when their conversation is not interesting to her, and rewards them when it is something she enjoys. Oh, if only I'd been smart enough to use that technique at only 5! ;-) bggs

This child has so many special needs that they were pressed by all medical channels to abort up to the last possible week allowed by any state in the US. She has very limited vision. They explained it best to the grandmother when they put wrap around black out glasses on her with tiny holes drilled in various places in them. She spends a large part of her day in her wheel chair. She does not walk. She does not crawl. She rolls around & has mastered getting to her knees & pulling up some now. Does not talk as good as 12-15 month old babies. She has phrases we can understand or make out when she decides to say them. We see that we are communicating with her better than she communicates with us by her responses. She has no idea of what sewing is but Pretty Clothes for her & their source, she comprehends. She recognizes people by voice & if your are close enough, she will tilt her heard around in an attempt to focus on you. She will now hold the phone to her ear & giggle when you talk to her. She will lean into you & kind of hug & kiss you. She will say la ya, la ya, la ya, when you say I love you or when somebody leaves.

Music is her escape. She loves all. Religous is her favorite. She knows who they are talking about when they tell her someone's show is about to come on. She does a lot of hand movements like clapping & goes back & forth with the pointer finger of one hand touching the palm of the other ONLY on religous music. Susan has sung to her switching back & forth with songs & watching her switch hand motions as she switches songs. How she knows religous from general, I don't know. She has migraines & for the first time in her life, I heard her cry or whine out last week following 4-5 days of headaches. One place on her heard was sore. She spends a lot of time in the floor rolling around & when she would get to that spot, she'd cry out. She is in lots of physical therapy devices, braces, walkers, standers. She can take steps in her walker now. She is in public school this year in the special needs classes. Her teacher's name is Mrs.Lee & she will say Lee, Lee sometimes when school is mentioned. She will also shake her head no & say "ont go kool" some days when they are trying to get her ready. She has participated in every service possible offered to her & has progressed so much farther than we ever though possible. We treat her like there are no limits to what she understands. We talk to her like she is a normal 5 year old. She gets scolded in church if she gets too loud during the music. She can express "no" if she is not interested in what you want to do. We read to her. Her play is basically getting in the floor with her & making a game out of exercising her legs. We know she will always require care & will never be able to function on her on. Her grandparents have full custody & they are 50ish now.
She is big for her age & I don't see how her grandmother handles her & how much longer she will be able to. I think ahead, years at times, & wonder how her caretakers will change during her lifetime. For now, we just rejoice in every thing she masters & we glow when we realize she's grasping life as we see it to any extent. She is beautiful & a precious little girl & has taught our family so much about so many things in her short life. One of the hardest things is not being able to potty train her. It's still being tried but is not being a success. Maybe, just maybe, some day that to will come to be.

I hope that you all realize that the impressive progress that this little girl has made so far is due to all of you that are clearly so in tune with her. By what you've said, I will bet that she will develop some strong communication skills, and that the potty training will fall into place after that.
She's such a lucky girl to have so many wonderful people that care about her. I've worked in several residential settings, and public schools, and the children that were able to reach their fullest potential were those with families that were involved. They know who is special to them and only them.
Thank you for sharing your story! :) bggs

What a lovely story...thank you for sharing, and I will put this sweetie on my everyday prayer list.
Blessings to you for "doing unto the least of these"...I believe you will be richly rewarded someday!

Jaybird,
Thanks for your kind words. I've got her Christmas jumper done and plan to send it to her tomorrow. I'm baby sitting one cousin so her grandmother and aunt can go Christmas shopping. I want her to be able to wear it as sonn as Dec 1st rolls around.
Susan

glad to hear these stories. I was looking to see if anyone here does sewing for special needs. I have a 33 yr old daughter who is severely retarded. does not speak, walk , does some crawling but is small for her age . about like an 8 year old or so. I make her pants, she gave up dresses years ago, and have to allow for diaper etc. She likes wearing clothes that please her with their color and newness. This year I am working on making pants lined with flannel. My next problem is going to be a jacket or something. Right now she has pullover stuff but I think we need something with an opening perhaps down the back. If anybody has a recommendation, let me know.

Bird,
There's some ladies on an ebay forum that made some type of special ponchos that went over a wheelchair and the person and I think they fastened with a zipper down the back. You know alot of people don't stop and think about the diaper and how that impacts the fit of the clothes. Luckily for now we can still use pretty standard patterns for Skyler that the "ease" of the pattern allows for her diaper. I and Mother both have used real narrow seams in the crotch and upper side seams to give more room.
Thanks for sharing your story.
Susan

Hi, I just add extra rise and extra crotch room and it makes plenty for diapers etc. A poncho would be easy for me but she is not in a wheelchair. She is small for her age so we lift her around and need something to keep her warm. We live in the northwest and need to keep her warm without restricting movement. Think I will try to modify these Fleece pullovers. I'm tired of fighting her to get them on over her head.