Hard to Handle

Remember back a couple of months ago, when I posted about the door handles on our cars?

The handle on the Honda Fit, Joy could easily manage. You just hook your fingers or thumb under the handle and exert moderate pressure upward. Piece o' cake.


The one on the CR-V, she was not able to operate. You have to choose the correct half of the handle, wrap your hand all the way around, and pull outward with significant pressure. Didn't come easily.


So we worked on it bit by bit.

First, I wrapped Joy's fingers around the handle for her, and then put my fingers on top and opened the door hand-over-hand.

Then, when she got the hang of grabbing the handle, I pulled on her wrist (so she had to get her grip tight enough to keep hold through the pull).

Then, I moved the pull-help back to her elbow.

Then, I started asking her to make the pull, and only helped a little.

On Thursday, Joy began opening the door on her own.

This process took several months, practicing at least every other day, sometimes every day, sometimes more than once a day. But the resulting increment of independence is a beautiful thing.

(Barbara/TherExtras, here's lookin' at you!)