Yes, Jacques is disabled, but unfortunately so many people only see the disabilities.
People are often amazed to learn how much Jacques actually understands. I think this is in a way our fault.
This has been a learning experience for us as his family, when he was younger it was a lot easier to just do things for him, especially in public.
I would feed him when eating out. He could do it himself, but it would be very messy, so to avoid the mess I'd just do it myself. At home he would eat by himself, no problem. I would just clean up the mess when he was finished.
Jacques can walk on his own, but when we're out we use his wheelchair. This is mainly to be able to control him a bit easier. This probably sounds strange but he is a big kid and very strong. I can control him a lot easier when he is in the wheelchair, when he is walking it can get nearly impossible to manage him. If he doesn't want to go where I want him to go and he is on foot he will just freeze or even sit down. This can be quite embarrassing, especially if he sits down in the door of a busy store.
Again, people have been amazed to learn that he can walk because they usually see him in the wheelchair.
This post is to brag a bit. To let everyone know (just a few things, there are tons more) what Jacques can do. Some may really find it surprising, and as mentioned above, don't feel guilty, it is mainly our own fault.
The videos attached show some of the things he is capable of, but there is a lot more. Our home language is Afikaans, I will try to translate everything that is said so that our english speaking followers can understand what is said.
In the first video I ask him to go into Youtube and show me Deal or no deal first, after that I ask him to show me "noot vir noot", one of his favorite afrikaans shows.
In the second video I ask him to close the door, he at first ignores me, but then when I ask him a second time he does it. He was probably wondering why I was asking him such strange things.
This is just a drop in the bucket, he knows all his colours and can point them out when you ask him. He loves helping in the kitchen and can cook rice (under supervision).
He can put on his own clothes, usually inside out, but he knows how.
There are a lot more and I will definitely post a brag post every now and then to remind us all how able he actually is.
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