Mules Working in the Grand Canyon
Hiking down and up the Grand Canyon is not only thrilling, it’s a total sensory experience that any occupational therapist would want to share! The colorful scenery is visual candy! I spend much of my life reading books so having grandiose views is a therapeutic break for my eyes. I naturally moved my gaze back and forth between near vision (watching my feet so that I didn't trip) and far vision. This is great if you have challenges with binocular vision like I do. It was a living 3 D viewer! I love the smells, including mule dropping which are not nearly as bad as dog waste. Of course, the air also provides sensational olfactory stimulation, too! I love the taste of Arizona water. I filter the water I drink at home because I don’t like the taste, so I really appreciated my frequent gustatory hydration experiences on the trails. When not chatting with hubby and other trekkers, I loved the sounds of silence, occasionally interrupted by the auditory stimulation of running streams, the Colorado River and wildlife. Carrying a backpack provides that same proprioceptive stimulation to muscles and joints that therapists love to talk about. Fortunately, I only carried my clothing, snacks and water because the Phantom Ranch provided shelter and meals. I love not having to cook…..I had opportunities for tactile stimulation when I bonded with a resting mule and discovered how painful it is to accidentally touch a cactus! My vestibular system had a good work out with the ups and downs and turning around to take in the 360 degree views. Now let’s not forget about the interoception sensory system! It was very much on my mind as I thought about food, drinking, my aches and pains, respiration and needing an out house is.
Learn about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.fromflappingtofunction.com
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Light Box Adaptations for Occupational Therapy
Light boxes are easy and inexpensive to make. Simply place a flashlight or other type of light inside an opaque plastic container. The light box shown in the video was purchased from a company that makes products for the blind. It’s pretty bright….. Note that I covered the boards with colored filter sheets to avoid a bright white light shining in anyone’s face. If you work with individuals with seizure disorders, please consult your health care professional before working with lights.
The video demonstrates three fine motor-activities that occupational therapists frequently use to develop hand skills:
1)Simple insertions- I cut a hole in the bottom and top of a cardboard box placed on top of the light box. My client’s visual attention is drawn to the light as he inserts the objects.
2)Placing objects into the small containers attached to the top of the light box. This client enjoys sorting by color and the light box adds extra pizazz ….
3)A pegboard frame is placed on top of the lightbox so that light shows through the openings where the pegs are to be inserted.
Now that you see the light…. See how many other adaptations you can create!
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
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Sensory Lamp Ring Stack for People with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Children and adults with autism or other developmental disabilities often love lights. They are attracted to them, especially in a darkened room. The woman in this video has Down syndrome, is nonverbal and legally blind. She seeks sensory stimulation by rocking in her seat and shaking objects. Adapting the beautiful aquarium lamp to be used as a ring stack motivates her to use her hands in a more functional way…..to stack rings. She loves it!
The other client shown in the video is on the autism spectrum. He has a very short attention span and avoids touching objects. He typically only looks briefly at objects in his hands- often dropping them before using them. The lamp light helped him to visually attend long enough to grasp rings and then stack.
You may make similar ring stack activities using an electric or battery- operated lamp. Be sure that the lamp is the type that will not get to hot. I have used the light up children’s toothbrushes and toys to make light up rings stacks by attaching them to the top of a dowel. Use shower rings or cut plastic to whatever size you need to make rings. The large rings shown in the video were cut from blue and red plastic coffee containers. Adapting a lamp into a successful ring stack activity is just one of the many adaptations you will learn about in my books and blog.
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
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Prevocational Skills and Sensory Processing Disorders
My client has pretty good fine-motor skills! She loves to cut with scissors and name pictures. She is on the autism spectrum and has many sensory processing challenges that result in
• frequent rocking and other movement
• jumping out of her seat to touch others
• easily distracted
• difficulty performing complex fine motor tasks such as cutting on lines
While it is great that she provides the vestibular (movement) sensory stimulation that her body craves through rocking and bouncing on her cushion, it is not safe or effective to do so while using scissors. In the video you will see the following sensory strategies:
• she uses a seat cushion all day to receive extra movement stimulation
• I provide deep pressure to her right hand to help her stabilize the straight edge
• I press down on her shoulders to decrease rocking movements while using scissors.
• She has the option of performing other tasks (not cutting) while seated or standing.
I am an occupational therapist and In my book From Flapping to Function: A Parent’s Guide to Hand Skills I explain that flapping and other repetitive movements are fine since they help the person to self-regulate. However, we also want her to learn functional hand skills. Read my book to learn lots of strategies that help children or adults on the autism spectrum to develop hand skills.
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.fromflappingtofunction.com
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Spelling with Legos Builds Hand Skills
I don't follow sports but my clients do! This young man is excited about the Super Bowl. He is non-verbal but talks about them using his communication device. He loves to spell, but is not too fond of using his hands, especially both hands together.
The video demonstrates my client learning to connect the large Duplo Lego Bricks to spell out his favorite teams. This is a lot easier to do when stabilizing the base with one hand while pushing the bricks down. As you can see this activity works on
1) motor control
2) strength (pushing bricks onto base)
3) sequencing to spell in the correct order
4) scanning and problem solving to find the needed blocks to spell
Start out with only a few large Duplo Lego bricks. Use smaller ones and add more words or letters to sort through to add challenge.
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
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Lacing Shapes to Develop Eye-Hand Coordination
Children love lacing boards and it’s a great way to develop eye-hand coordination. When you make your own plastic lacing shapes you can individualize according to your child's needs. Make fewer and larger holes for younger children. Older children may enjoy the challenge of lacing 2 different shapes together.
Involve your child in choosing the theme and colors. Try creating seasonal and holiday themes such as lacing stars, trees, hearts, snowmen or shamrocks. Be creative and enjoy all these free materials found in your recycling bin!
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
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Clothespins Bowl Activity for Sensory Processing Disorders
Children and adults with a sensory processing disorder will love watching the bowl spin before or after attaching clothespins to the rim. Squeezing clothespins strengthens hands and promotes bilateral hand skills. I love taking the familiar activity of attaching clothespins to a box rim or suspended cord and adding this new spin on it!
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
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Recycling OT Hoola Hoop Ring Stack
When a broken hoola hoop was delivered to my desk, I turned it into unusual ring stacks. The video shows a client who is blind and enjoys repetitive fine-motor tasks. He later learned how to sort the rings according to tactile qualities. However, sighted clients may be able to sort the rings by color. For example, blue rings on the left hoop end and red rings on the right hoop end.
I attached a flat object to the center of the hoop to help stabilize it under the chair. You may choose to use a bag of sand or different type of heavy object. This activity may be adapted to perform on the person’s lap or on the table depending on the client’s abilities and preferences. In any case, I love how the set up encourages tactile exploration in front and to his sides, trunk rotation and crossing midline. My clients certainly enjoy learning a new twist to a familiar task that is at their cognitive and motor skill level.
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
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Fidget Tools for Sensory Processing and Anxiety Disorders
This video demonstrates a variety of fidget tools or toys designed to help children or adults with sensory processing disorders and/or anxiety to promote focus and decrease agitation.
Learn more about sensory processing disorders, autism and activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
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Where is Abe Lincoln?
Salvadore Dali's Abraham Lincoln boggles my mind. As I walk closer his face transitions into a nude woman!!!
See him at the museum
https://thedali.org/
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Hungry Begging Bird!
Who doesn't love to feed a begging animal? I enjoyed meeting him during my vacation. Filmed in Sarasota, Florida.
Check out that neck!!!
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Birds and Alligators at Myakka River Park
I don't recommend getting this close to alligators but they were quite busy sunbathing. Actually, we weren't as close as it seems. I love the wildlife at Myakka River Park in Florida!
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Woody Wood Pecker at Myakka River Park
Here is Woody Wood Pecker at Myakka River Park in Florida, one of my favorite places....
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Oh..... Dear!
Its always a thrill to come across deer at Myakka River State Park.
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Cute Goats with Excellent Sensory Motor Skills
I have to share these cute goats at a farm in Fruitville, Florida. I love their playfulness and energy, as well as balance and coordination! I find it therapeutic to watch them leap on and off the benches....
Learn about sensory motor activities and adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
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Color Matching Buckle Fine-Motor Activity
This activity helps children and/or adults with developmental disabilities develop skills such as
1. color matching
2) eye-hand coordination
3) hand strengthening when pulling or pushing the shapes on and off the cord
4) dexterity to buckle or unbuckle.
5) sequencing several steps such as opening a buckle, removing the shapes and inserting into the container.
Make your color matching buckle fine-motor activity by
1. Cutting strips of cord or fabric of different colors
2. Cut plastic or fabric pieces to color match. cut a hole in the centers.
3. Tie a buckle half to each end of a piece of cord
4. Cut a slot in a large container’s lid for insertions
Be sure that you buy buckles that are all the same size and interchangeable. Larger buckles are easier to manipulate....but you may want to use smaller buckles to create challenge.
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
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Bilateral Control Activity for Client with Spasticity
My client has spasticity that makes it difficult to use his hands together. He is unable to manipulate objects on his tray, but enjoys stabilizing a container with his left hand to insert objects.
He loves to use his hands and he loves to talk. But he has learned that his hands work much better when not talking! At this stage he only has to perform one step before being rewarded with an opportunity to chat. Hopefully, as skill develops, he will be able to remove all of the cards before the "chat reward".
How to Make:
1) Cut a long strip of fabric.
2) Tie short pieces of fabric or string along the long strip.
3) Punch holes in picture cards, plastic or other materials.
This is the first activity I designed for him where he is able to use both hands together in midline. He needs to continuously reposition his hands to find the materials. It was just the right amount of challenge!
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
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Hemiplegia Adaptation: Making it Easy to Stabilize Materials
The client shown in the video typically has her right hand fisted against her body. My goal is to maintain range of motion by reaching for objects to insert into the container with her left hand as she grasps the handle. The large blue container is tied to the table so that she is unable to pull it into her lap.
This individual prefers to be busy, so this adaptation serves to
1) provide a repetitive task
2) maintain or improve range of motion
3) motivate to engage in bilateral tasks
4) Open up her fisted hand during a functional task. She refuses to wear a splint to prevent contractures.
How to make: Simply cut an opening in a large detergent or kitty litter bottle so that the desired container can be wedged inside. I cut an opening where her knuckles were rubbing and then put tape around the edges.
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
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Vibrating Ring Stack Motivates a Deaf/Blind Client
A deaf-blind individual with developmental disabilities is motivated to engage in hand activities when they vibrate. I took the motors from a vibrating cushion and inserted them inside the base of the ring stack. The one shown in this video is electric but I have used a variety of battery-operated motors to make lots of activities vibrate- including insertion tasks, cone stacking, stringing and shape sorters.
Check some of them out:
https://rumble.com/v3cvu1-how-vibration-helps-children-with-autism-or-sensory-processing-disorders.html
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
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Adapting Velcro Activity for Sensory Processing Disorders
Ripping Velcro off backings is a great sensory activity because pulling stimulates the muscles, tendons and joints and at the same time provides auditory feedback with the ripping sound. The Loop Velcro covered board shown in the video can be positioned to promote reaching, trunk rotation and visual attention since the materials on the wall are easier to see than if on the table.
If children or adults with developmental disabilities have difficulty learning how to attach loop and hook sides together, simply apply bright nail polish to the non-velcro side that you want facing up.
Ripping longer or stronger pieces of Velcro from backings requires using both hands together-helping individuals with sensory processing disorders to develop bilateral hand skills, visual engagement and sequencing skills.
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
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Matching Numbers Screw Cap Activity to Develop Fine- Motor Skills
Children or adults with developmental disabilities may enjoy matching as they screw bottle caps onto the corresponding size threaded pieces. Write numbers, letters or glue pictures to caps and threaded pieces to make matching fun!
Materials needed:
1)Threaded pieces cut from plastic bottles
2) Caps or covers that screw onto the threaded pieces
3)A long strip of fabric
4) A container to insert the lids into (optional)
Cut 2 holes in each threaded piece in order to string them onto the cord. You will see in the video that some clients preferred to sit. However, I adapted the materials to encourage reaching or standing. Some clients not only enjoy standing, they crave movement and this activity enables them to retrieve materials located on the floor or across the room. Screwing or unscrewing the lids strengthens hands and develops bilateral hand coordination.
Making this activity costs virtually ZERO $$$$
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
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Sensory Pop Tube Activity for Individuals with Autism
A large detergent bottle has a "Sensory Pop Tube" attached to one opening to push/pull rings down. Use shower rings or cut plastic bottles into donut shapes. These are not only free, but also vibrant and won’t break easily.
Curly strips are inserted into the other opening. This video demonstrates how to make them:
Https://rumble.com/v6l3fv-curly-insertions-develop-motor-planning-skills.html
Cut a secret opening on the bottom of the bottle to remove the curly strips.
This activity develops the visual perceptual skills to choose whether the plastic pieces either need to be pushed down the tube or inserted into the opening.
While developing eye hand coordination, the child or adult with autism or other types of developmental delays will enjoy using force on these materials and the sound of the rings going down the pop tube. Using force stimulates the muscles, joints and tendons helping individuals with sensory processing disorders develop body awareness and motor coordination.
Increase the motor planning challenge by twisting the pop tube to bend in different directions!
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
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Baby Tray Sensory Activity for Children with Autism
Children and adults with autism or other types of developmental disabilities often benefit from pulling sensory activities that stimulate the muscles, joints and tendons. The video demonstrates pulling colorful shapes off of curly plastic strips attached to a tray. I drilled holes in the tray (actually a wonderful maintenance man at work did) to push the strips through and attach on the bottom of the tray. The following video demonstrates how to make the curly strips by cutting around bottles:
https://rumble.com/v6l3fv-curly-insertions-develop-motor-planning-skills.html
The last step is to cut a notch in the shapes for stringing or removing. Some children will be able to string while matching by color, shape or objects (in this case, apples, bananas and grapes).
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
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Walking and Sensory Stimulation!
Walking is great exercise that also provides vestibular sensory stimulation that impacts balance and body awareness. Many of my clients are sedentary, obese and/or have limited physical endurance. The program hallways are designed for walking groups. However, there is not always enough staff to provide supervision and many clients refuse to participate. Therefore, I find it helpful to create simple movement activities that involve walking across the room and/or moving materials at different heights.
Staff can gradually increase endurance, by providing more materials to transfer. Although functional activities such as putting away groceries or recreational pastimes such as walking in a park are ideal forms of exercise, clients who enjoy repetitive tasks in the program or classroom, benefit when activities are adapted to involve walking.
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
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Window Rings: for Reaching, Crossing midline and Trunk Rotation
These "rings" are cut from round containers and are open-ended so that they can be attached to or pulled off suspended cord or a tube.
Many of my clients are sedentary and this is a great way to encourage standing, reaching, crossing midline, trunk rotation and if possible walking from one part of the room to another to retrieve more materials.
Notice that I used a lot of verbal cues with one client and nonverbal cues with the other. We all learn and follow directions in different ways!
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
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