… an instruction is always a story cut too short.

FIELD NOTES

September 2015

Wednesday is one of Marla's regular day programme days. Ken tells me that he has been unable to use DATS [Disability Action Transport Scheme] (the transport provided) because it is difficult to ensure that Marla will be ready to go on time – getting up and dressed is a struggle some days, and if Marla isn't ready, it's a problem. Plus, he was never sure exactly what time the van would arrive, and having her dressed for outside and waiting was an issue. I am going with them to the day programme because Ken thinks it is important for me to see what they do there and how important it is for him that she goes there (she now attends three days/week).

I arrive at the house at 8:40 – Ken has asked me to arrive early because he wants me to ‘see’ what getting ready to go out is like. I arrive, the house is very tidy, breakfast dishes have been washed and put away, radio is playing music, both Ken and Marla are dressed. Marla is wandering around the house.[…]

He finds Marla and says ‘Let's go do your hair’ and takes her into the bathroom. She resists his brushing her hair but then they decide she looks nice. He then helps her to brush her teeth and is concerned when she swallows the toothpaste; he tries to get her to rinse her mouth and admonishes her about the toothpaste. Then he tells her she ‘looks good, really sharp’. He seems to go back and forth between gentleness and sharpness.[…]

Getting Marla into her outside jacket is a struggle. Ken tries to reason with her ‘I just put it on, why take it off?’ It's a chore to have her sit long enough to put her shoes on. Ken goes to get himself ready to leave and I walk around the house with Marla. She says ‘Ken is always fussing’.