I wanted to just add a few thoughts to this thread. My grandson Micah is 20, and he lives independently, has a job and moved to Oregon from Ohio to be with his partner and to further promote their independence by living where they have wanted to be, rather than sticking close to family. Sometimes the stresses from his job and dealing with people can be a little overwhelming at the end of the day, and that's when he finds himself wishing for the comforts of the weighted quilt and the soothing of textures to feel.
As I said, he is quite high functioning and has learned to manage pretty well. When he asked me about helping him make a weighted quilt, I was honored and delighted to say yes, of course I will. And of course I was so pleased that he was happy to spend that much of his visit back east with us, working on the quilt.
To see first hand the growth in his confidence from that first anxious handling of the ruler and rotary cutter and stitching with the sewing machine, to the point when he said, "You go have a relax with a cup of coffee, Nana, I'll call you if I need help." filled my heart with joy and pride. I had to convince him to even try to cut a piece of fabric and sew it, he was so sure he couldn't do it!!! He was so proud of those blocks he made, as was I!! I made sure every one of them made it into this quilt!