The Mysterious Case of Lincoln: The Adolescent

By Dwight Dyce

‘The Mysterious Case of Lincoln – The Adolescent’ is a story of an autistic boy who was taken from his mom and dad at about age 9 and was placed in foster care. Lincoln had difficulty in social and emotional processing and transferring of information; he had problems communicating what he was feeling and thinking and would project his frustration through unacceptable behaviors. He wanted to return to live with his mom and dad, but several unfortunate events were hindering him from doing so; Lincoln appeared to be left on his own with an uncertain future; his zone of transient comfort were three caregivers and the foster home he spent most of his years, but this dull and melancholic posture will soon be changed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Oct 10, 2023
• ISBN: 9781698715537

Dwight Dyce

Growing up in the rural district of Murray Mount, St. Ann, Jamaica, Dwight Dyce had a deep interest to understand human behavior. Consequently, he studied and received his first degree in Guidance and Counseling in 2009 from International University of the Caribbean (IUC). Later, Dyce earned a Master of Education in Teaching and Learning from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in 2015. Presently, Dyce is enrolled in the Master of Education in school counseling program at Cambridge College, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Among his packed resume`, Dwight Dyce worked as a guidance counselor in Jamaica for six years at both the primary and secondary levels, and motivated many young people through several empowerment programs. He immigrated to the United States of America, where he continues to expand his professional and academic development by working as a special education teacher for two years at the clinical day school at the Susan Wayne Center of Excellence, located in Thompson, Connecticut which offers intensive educational, vocational, and clinical services for mild to moderately cognitively impaired students. Dyce also worked with a non-profit organization in the field of social services as a rehabilitation counselor for at-risk youth. Currently, he is living and working in Worcester, Massachusetts as a Behavior Therapist in the field of applied psychology. Dyce is also an active member of United States Soccer Federation (USSF) as a regional referee. Dwight Dyce is driven by a yearning to understand concepts of life and living; how individuals with challenges relate through different levels of communication, and if this is understood as it is supposed to. His quest to understand the anatomy of human behavior inspired the writing of this book, ‘The Mysterious Case of Lincoln – The Adolescent’.

Book preview

Dedicated to my grandparents –

Mabel Leung (Mamz) and Stafford Leung (Maa`ford)

and

to all the wonderful individuals who are

diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder

and those struggling with mental health

The Mysterious Case of Lincoln

The Adolescent

Dwight Dyce

©

Copyright 2023 Dwight Dyce.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

ISBN: 978-1-6987-1552-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6987-1553-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023919001

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Trafford rev.  10/04/2023

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Contents

Acknowledgements

Prologue

Part 1:   Beginning

Part 2:   Transitioning

Part 3:   Challenges

Part 4:   Voluntary

Part 5:   Sensory

Part 6:   Same-ness

Part 7:   Expected and Unexpected

Epilogue

Acknowledgements

T here are a number of people who have helped me in one way or another throughout my development from childhood into adulthood, to whom I am truly grateful.

And as I continue to try and lead a life for those who see me as an exemplar of mere reflection of hard-work, courage, strength, and hope, I am aware that I represent, not just myself, but a host of people who have lived before me, and those are presently here;

to my grandparents – Mabel (Mamz) and Stafford Leung (Maa`ford), you have worked so hard raising and nurturing me into the human being that I am today. The immense sacrifices you have made to make sure I was safe, clothed and fed, all that I am and have belong to you two;

to my ‘adopted dad’, Father Carl Clarke, you came into my life at a time when I was struggling to find my purpose as an adolescent, and have taught me so many important life lessons, that without you I would not have made it this far - you have helped me to develop the appropriate behavior to be an intelligent human being in navigating the wider world, and skills of professional life;

to our Archbishop Emeritus, Charles H. Dufour, you have been a tower of blessings in my life from I was thirteen years old. You have demonstrated what it truly means to be the light of Christ, living by your motto, Sent to Serve;

to Kaydean Edwards-Williams and Tamla Walker, who first became my closest friends and intellectual companions. You have been more than sisters to me. Your continued support and encouragement have not gone unrecognized, and are greatly appreciated;

to Aretha and Romie at Aretha’s Kitchen – one of the best Jamaican restaurants in Massachusetts, you continue to treat me with the love and support like a family here in the States, the delicious foods that you provide for me whether I had money or not, and you make sure I am always safe;

to Tom Kotosky (Mr. K.) and Matt Peloquin - two of the most beautiful human beings I have ever met. Your kind compliments, your support and feedback after reading this story are well appreciated, I am truly grateful to have met both of you. Mr. Matt, I really enjoyed those conversations that we would have about various types of behaviors on the autism spectrum;

to Lee-Ellen Sturtz, your beautiful nature is demonstrated through your kind and supportive comments, and in your ability to connect with everyone around you, you are a very genuine person;

to Laura Henderson – my friend and intern supervisor, being in your presence is like being around my Jamaican people. You are effective in the work you do daily. Through your calmness and intellect, you have made everything so easy wearing a broad smile always;

to Lisa Walsh (Miss Lisa) and Jackie Holland (Miss Jackie), words can’t express how thankful I am to have met you. I enjoyed every moment we share whether working with the students we serve or having our usual ‘lunch dates’, they were always fun moments;

to Rick Eddy, Richard Heron and Raymond Moffatte Jr., three of the most extraordinary human beings on this planet, you have helped me to develop into a more professional individual as it pertains to being a USSF referee. Your commitment to and belief in me is greatly appreciated;

to anyone who may have helped me in one way or another, know that you are appreciated for keeping hope and faith alive in me;

and finally, to everyone who are reading this book, you are a blessing to all the individuals who are entrusted to your care, you may feel sometimes that your work is not appreciated due to a lack of insensitivity on the part of those around you, know that you matter and you cannot be replaced.

My deepest gratitude to all,

Dwight Dyce

Prologue

W hile Victor was still a young boy, his mother brought him from the city to the countryside to live with his grandparents. There, his mother would visit occasionally and brought him gifts of various kinds. At some point, he didn’t see his mother for a long time; he thought that she was doing something great back in the city - a big job that required all her time.

Victor’s grandparents lived in a small district, located in the most rural parts of the country where farming and the rearing of animals were the main sources of income. The air was always fresh due to the mountainous landscape adorned with many trees. The roads weren’t all that good, and that was an annoying problem for the motorists. There wasn’t any of the big supermarkets either; the locals built many small shops that were stacked alongside each other in the main part of the small town that they would refer to as the ‘Square’.

When Victor was old enough to attend school, his grandparents sent him to the small kindergarten in their small district that catered for poor kids because they couldn’t afford the other schools; Victor, like most of the other kids, attended school barefooted for most of their childhood; most people had only one pair of shoes that were reserved mainly for attending church on a Sunday morning, and in the evenings of some weekdays.

It had rained all morning leaving puddles of water everywhere, and what made it worst was the many potholes the roads were suffering from. But in the afternoon, the sun made its way through the clouds, creating beautiful rays of light across the afternoon sky. That afternoon on his way from school, Victor came upon a crowd that was close to the narrow track he used to get home regularly. There were constant chattering and unusual shouts coming from the crowd. As he got closer, he noticed that the people formed a circle around a young man, and were looking intensely at him because of his strange behavior; he was on his feet, spinning frantically in the same spot. His hands held upwards, waiving dramatically, and with unusually loud noises continuously.

Victor became very nervous, and wondered curiously to himself, ‘what