My 23 Old Handicap Want Keep Is Cloths on Out Side

Please don't come on this site and make stuff up. These mothers have small children, handicapped children, sick children, elderly and infirmed parents and grandparents to take care of. Coming on here and making up stories just makes fun of all the work REAL CAREGIVERS have to do.

One time I was working in a long term care facility and so many people would pull their clothes off if they didn't get their way. In the past they'd have gotten into trouble and sent to their rooms but with the Hissom project going on and so many law suits similar our admin decided to stop reprimanding people for their indiscretions.

As a result they'd yank their clothes off and run around screaming "Look at me!!! I'M NAKED!!!!!" and we'd pretty much ignore them. It took a while but they finally realized we weren't going to rush over and make them go to their rooms or give them what they wanted.

I was talking to a co-worker one day while we were hanging out downtown shopping and she said "You know what? If there were a dozen naked people walking around me right now I think I'm so used to seeing ugly butts and droopy boobies that I wouldn't even notice".

My point is that many people with developmental disabilities think taking their clothes off is a big deal.

In your case though he's an adult in public, not a facility, where strangers can see him and call the police, or worse, misunderstand this situation and shoot him for trying to show himself to their kids.

I'd like to suggest that it's perhaps time to find a facility in your area that takes people for daytime care and get him, and you, used to the idea of letting someone else help out. They usually have doors that require a key to open them. So even if someone takes their clothes off as part of their personality they can manage it behind locked doors to prevent him from serious repercussions.

He's going to end up in serious legal trouble and could even end up in a court ordered long term care facility. You know this, you also know that he's going to get you into trouble for not managing him. Please just consider having him go to an adult day care business so you can have a break and he can get some services through his disability.

I know this is hard. I know you love him and want to keep him at home as long as you can but he needs to have activities.

In my area we have a sheltered workshop where clients can have interactions during the day. They make friends, they have something to do. This might be something that your guy needs, to be out and with people who he can have interactions with.

i find it hard to believe that someone could raise a handicapped boy to the age of 23 and not yet have figured out a few simple coping techniques.
khairete
S.

Does he pull his clothes off while inside?

Unfortunately, this can be very common. As you said, he has the mind of a 3 year old, and that kind of behavior is not uncommon with toddlers. Unfortunately, while that behavior is "cute" with a toddler, it is not cute, nor is it acceptable with a 23 year old man, no matter what his mental age is.

Many special needs children and adults are very sensitive to fabric textures. My grandson doesn't like the tags in clothes, and itches and scratches where there are tags or rough textures.

You may have to work hard to find clothing textures and feel that he is willing to tolerate.

If it isn't a sensory issue, you may have to discipline him by bringing him inside EVERY time he starts to remove his clothes. Maybe, with the gentle discipline, he will learn.

Otherwise, dress him in the one piece jumpsuits like this... he may find this more difficult to easily get out of, although you will probably have to help him more with toileting, if he is fully toilet trained.

http://www.dickies.com/mens-clothing/mens-coveralls/Short...

If he wants his clothes off then he stays inside.
He can't go out unless he's dressed.
If you can't handle him anymore then get some help to come in or put him into a facility where they will care for him.
He's going to need life long care and you will be too old to do so when you get into your 60's or 70's.
Do your research and find a good place for him when the time comes.

Cloths.... like, he wears washcloths? I don't get it. Maybe put some clothes on him instead. Those are harder to remove.

I don't have much to add except to say you should read Gamma G's answer carefully and think about her suggestion. If you son isn't using an adult daytime care facility or a sheltered workshop of some kind yet, it is time he did. I bet you could find a group in your area which works outside. You are near a city; I am sure there are city, county, and state social services which can help you.

Updated

This is what 3 year olds do, but they do learn. You may need to have some custom clothes made, perhaps something that LOOKS like a short and pants, but is like a onesie that fastens in the back? I can't sew, but if you can or know someone who can, maybe they can help.

Social stories - kind of like a comic strip that explains the behavior you need him to learn, may be helpful. Google can give examples of social stories.

Make sure the clothes don't have tags and are SUPER soft and comfy. Specia needs children often have a heightened sense of touch- scratchy tags and itchy fabrics included.

Explain it to him in 3 year old terms.