Mr. Rob M

"Love re-living in story all the exciting adventures of you and Sam, but I just can’t wait for my favorite hero, when oh when is  the fabulous MR. ROB going to appear (still wish we could have brought him home!!!!!!)"

This was the e-mail I received from my mom this morning.  Sometimes, I wonder if she would have traded me for Rob......Remember when I talked about the summer Sam did intense services?  (It was yesterday.  Go look.  I'll wait......ready?  Ok.)  Rena was the supervisor, Rob was the one who did the work.  

Rob moved here from New York.  I'm going to tell you this about him, because it will make you realize what  a really good person he is.  Rob started out working in group homes.  He was supposed to take the residents to a ball game.  It was one of a very few outings.  It was cancelled because of funding.  He said that was it for him.  Those people had lives and it wasn't fair and he didn't want to do it anymore.  Two things:  One, I'm lucky that there are Robs out there in the world who say what's wrong with the way we treat adults with disabilities.  Two, I'm lucky that he left so that he could start working with Sam when Sam was just a little guy. After several weeks, Rob told me Sam was his first little guy.  I would never have guessed that.

The first session, Rob set the expectation that Sam would work.  Sam was none to pleased about that entire prospect.  By the time he met  Rob, he had pretty much figured out that being a kid with autism was kind of a sweet deal.  You aren't encumbered by things like rules, asking for things, or waiting.  You want, you get.  If you don't get, you throw a fit.  Then you get.  Work and responsibility were so not a part of the protocol.  Much to Sam's chagrin, Rob was not a board with how Sam operated.  By the end of the first session, Sam threw such a major hissy fit over being asked to *gasp!* sit down, that it took three adults to get Sam back on track.  He was back on track by the time the session ended.  Rob always ended the sessions when Sam was compliant.  Lesson learned.

When Sam started with Rob, he had just received his first dynamic screen communication device.  Rob was instrumental in teaching him how to use it.  I learned things from watching him that I use professionally today.  By the end of the summer, Sam had made tons of progress.  Over the next year or so, Rob taught me how to do what he did.  He is one of many people who made Sam and I who we are today.

Rob, thanks for sticking it out with Sam.  My mom still loves you and wants to adopt you!