Opinion ID: 2796228
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Practical Skills

Text: ¶32. Dr. Reschly found that Chase had severe adaptive behavior limitations in the practical skills domain and “likely cannot care for himself competently nor support himself economically or maintain himself in the community as a respectable citizen.” He found particularly significant Chase’s statement that, if he was released from prison, he would want to live with his mother but, if she had already passed away, he would want to stay in prison because he needed someone to take care of him. ¶33. Regarding daily living activities, Chase’s mother said that Chase had been more difficult than other children to accomplish developmental milestones such as toilet training. 19 Chase’s mother said he could cook a little. Persons recalled that Chase’s mother still picked out his clothes in high school. Chase stated that he washes his clothes in his prison cell toilet because he believes the prison laundry service is dirty, and Dr. Reschly found this action to be lacking in reason and judgment. Further, Chase reported that he had not slept for several days except for one nap, which Dr. Reschly found to be impossible. Dr. Reschly found that Chase’s statement that he removes salt from noodles by running water over them was incredible. Overall, Dr. Reschly found Chase’s daily living skills to be a mix of some good habits, good grooming, and cleanliness, along with some bad habits. ¶34. Dr. Reschly also found deficiencies in Chase’s occupational skills. Social security records showed that Chase had may different employers and that his employment generally was short-term. Marshall Gordon, Chase’s peer in middle school and high school, told Dr. Reschly that Chase had been unable to use tools competently in industrial arts class such as a hammer, handsaw, and chisel. Chase watched others work but completed no projects of his own and did not receive credit for the course. From this, Dr. Reschly concluded that Chase had very poor spatial relations. Shirley stated that Chase could not change a light bulb. Chase’s mother and Johnson recalled that Chase soon was dismissed from his few jobs because he could not do the work or could not manage the social demands of the workplace. Dr. Reschly stated that Chase told unbelievable stories about the reasons for his dismissal from jobs, and he “strongly suspect[ed]” that Chase had lost these jobs due to incompetence. ¶35. Dr. Reschly said that Chase did not understand or appropriately handle money because Chase said he did not trust banks and would rather hold his money himself, because Chase’s 20 mother had left money for him daily, and because others reported that Chase could not handle money and frequently lost his money when other kids cheated him. Also, Chase has never paid rent, and he told Dr. Reschly that he cannot keep track of his prison commissary expenses. ¶36. Dr. Reschly found that Chase’s safety and health care skills were deficient because he will not take the prescribed medication for his high blood pressure, stating that he does not “want to become dependent.” Dr. Reschly also concluded that Chase “was significantly delayed and deficient in acquiring and using skills related to travel and transportation.” He found that Chase had never had a driver’s license because, although Chase claimed to have been issued a South Carolina driver’s license, there was no record of it and Chase’s description of obtaining the license was suspicious. And Shirley testified that Chase had been unmotivated to drive and had been completely dependent on others for transportation to his various jobs and during his school years. Because others reported that Chase was chronically late and could make appointments only with Deborah’s assistance, Dr. Reschly concluded that Chase was deficient in the area of schedules and routines. He noted that Chase had no trouble using the telephone.