Hiking+ & Therapeutic Yoga as Tools for Communication - Young Adult with Special Needs

Ben at West Point - United States Military Academy

Through hiking and fitness, I am able to work with individuals who face challenges with societal integration, which by definition requires some degree of being able to communicate with the world. One emerging success story is my work with Ben.

On my first one to one day with Ben, we went to West Point for a day of hiking and exploring. Ben is not traditionally “verbally communicative”, and he rarely initiates giving out information. He will often answer questions with ‘I don’t know’ in an effort to brush off a questioner.

When I was driving home with Ben after our big day at West Point, I was wondering what Ben got out of the day.

Ben dictates his recollections after an experience to his Mother, and the reader can more clearly see how much he takes in and understands. I was really amazed at how much Ben saw, thought about, and retained from our day at West Point.

The following is an email from Evelyn (Mom) the next day:

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Hi Mike,

Here’s is Ben’s report about today.  As I told you, he dictates, I type, and then we add photos.

Evelyn

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Day 1 - Hiking+ at West Point - United States Military Academy

Yuri from Leahy’s Fuel came today to deliver propane.

Mike Sweeney came.

I went with Mike Sweeney to West Point.

The car ride was relaxing. He has a button to start the car instead of an ignition key, like in Wes’ car. He has an off-road switch that makes a ping noise.

We went over the Newburgh Bridge to get to West Point.

I got a special pass to get in to West Point.

I saw a statue of a soldier hanging on a rope.

I saw lots of  cannons. They are not in use.

I saw Army trucks.

I saw a tall tower with a bird on top.

I went into a museum with Mike Sweeney.

It was big. I saw a very big hallway there.

I enjoyed it.

I saw the main church and the Jewish temple.

The temple was very big. I saw a big menorah.

We went into a little shop.

Mike bought a candle for Mom.

The little shop used to be a bookstore, but now there are no books in the store.

We ate lunch on the rocks outside.

I talked to Mike.

We shared a sandwich.

I looked at the Hudson River.

We met two nice military men there.

Maybe one day Ben will get a military coat like they have.

We went on the Bear Mountain Bridge to get back home.

It was an exciting day.

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Day 2 - Therapeutic Yoga with Ora Sucov

Hello Mike,

Hello Ora,

Here is the document Ben dictated last night about our visit with you.

FYI, Ben does best as an experiential learner, and does less well sitting in one place and processing auditory input, so I think that’s why he had less to say about sights we saw during the campus car tour.

Thank you both for so generously spending time with us.

Evelyn and Ben

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We went to see Mike Sweeney at Dustin’s Karma House.

Mike took us to the farm. We saw cows.

He took us to the cafe. We met a lady named Marissa there.

We ate lunch inside Mike’s house. I sat on a big bean bag chair.

It was relaxing. I saw that yoga lady, and she did yoga with me.

She showed you her yoga studio.

She put on music during yoga to be relaxing.

She had two big heaters on. They are on wheels.

It felt good to do yoga with her.

She has pull down attic stairs in her house.

She has a dog. The dog was very big. The dog sat next to you. That made me very scared.

I saw The Meeting House (at Endeavor 21+). They have a Bose radio there, like you do. It is black.

Mike fixed the map app on Mom’s phone. Now Siri talks. Siri told us how to get home.