Dametries
Engaging and friendly, Dametries is looking forward to becoming a member of an adoptive family with parent(s) who are familiar with the daily care needs of individuals with developmental disabilities, and who will see that he has the security he needs to feel safe, and the educational, developmental, social, and mental health services that will help him to realize his potential. Dametries also looks forward to sharing with his new family the pride he feels in what he can accomplish and his generally happy disposition.
As an infant Dametries was shaken severely, suffering significant injury to his brain and subsequent on-set of symptoms of cerebral palsy. Those events left him cognitively much like a child of 5 and socially much like a child of 7 to 9 years old. Dametries was then placed in a long-term guardianship with a relative. In late 2011, he was taken into protective custody and the guardianship terminated due to lack of safety and well being. Dametries is successfully participating in play therapy to help him deal with his feelings of grief over the loss of his guardianship family. He is also working with an autism unit at mental health clinic.
In early 2011, Dametries was placed in his current foster home with providers who understand his issues, and who meet his care and advocacy needs. They will help him transition successfully into his adoptive family.
Dametries has a wide variety of interests. He especially enjoys participating in extracurricular activities through the Native American community. And he loves sports! He is thrilled to be on a Miracle League team, a sports program designed for physically challenged youth to play baseball. Dametries loves to suit up and wear his uniform and helmet. According to Dametries, he’s a better outfielder than hitter. But as he himself points out, he actually has hit several home runs, too. A resilient and determined boy, Dametries loves to run despite a rather awkward gait; occasionally he falls forward on his hands and knees, and when that happens, he doesn’t like anyone making a fuss. He picks himself up and gets right back into the game. Dametries likes music, and with his excellent memory, he knows the words to many of his favorite country western songs. He likes to sing (loudly) and play the guitar. Dametries is a big Transformer and Scooby Doo fan. His favorite movies feature Scooby, and his favorite toy is a large stuffed Scooby. Dametries is enthralled with law enforcement, Scooby style, and he practices arresting bad guys by handcuffing the Scooby toy.
In early 2012, Dametries was, for the first time ever, enrolled in school! He has an IEP, life skills, PE, and choir. Within a few months, he had an Honor Roll certificate for maintaining academic excellence. He loves his life skills building class, where he is learning how to be more independent and developing rudimentary job skills through shopping trips, budgeting, etc. His foster mom provides regular opportunities, too, for him to wash dishes, operate the washier/dryer, fold clothes, grocery/clothes shop, and manage/budget money. Dametries is thriving with routines that have simple steps he can memorize and follow. Physical/occupational therapies at school have improved his motor skills. Although he has excellent walking navigation, he struggles with hand-eye coordination, depth perception, reading, writing, color, etc. He now has a cane to assist with depth perception at school and for use in the community on uneven and unfamiliar surface terrain.
Dametries is doing exceptionally well in his foster home and is excited about having a family of his own soon. For adoption information call the Northwest Adoption Exchange at 1-800-927-9411.
