How Sensory Reinforcement Helps Children with Autism Develop Hand Skills
This video explains how to use sensory reinforcers to help children or adults on the autism spectrum or people with other developmental disabilities to develop hand skills. Many disabled individuals have sensory processing challenges and avoid using their hands. They may decrease anxiety and self-regulate by rocking, spinning, flapping or shaking objects in front of their eyes. While this is OK, it becomes a problem when people do this all the time to the exclusion of learning functional hand skills such as grasping a spoon to eat, placing objects into a container or rings on a stack.
A reinforcer is a reward or an event that increases the likelihood of a behavior occurring. The term positive reinforcement refers to a behavior that we want to encourage such as pointing or signing “more” to indicate that the individual wants the horse to resume trotting.
Sensory reinforcers provide the type of stimulation that helps one’s brain to organize the sensory information received from the sense organs and use it to perform motor skills such as walking or cutting a sandwich. The sensory systems related to movement (vestibular), body awareness (proprioception) and touch (tactile system) are of particular importance because people with sensory processing disorders (SPD) often crave these sensory experiences and are motivated to work to receive them.
In the video you will see a young man who seeks movement by rocking, swaying or waving objects in front of his face. He also seeks vibration and the sensation of a heavy cushion on his lap. Weighted materials, vibration and activities that require force such as tug of war all stimulate the muscles, joints and tendons to increase proprioception. Another young man in a video needs to move all the time. He also engages in maladaptive behaviors including spitting on his hands and rubbing them on everything. He likes materials that are heavy, vibrate or require force. He uses force to push balls into a small container opening. The sequence of walking across the room to retrieve a ball from a vibrating container and returning to his table to push it into the container meets his sensory needs and makes him happier as well as more hygienic.
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
4.69K
views
Suspended Clothing Fasteners Fine-Motor Activity
This fine-motor activity provides an opportunity to practice opening or closing clothing fasteners repeatedly to refine hand skills. Many clients enjoy repetitive tasks and find them calming. Other benefits include:
1) the materials are right in front of the individuals face, making it easier to see what they are manipulating
2) Standing is aerobic for people who tend to sit all day, so its a form of exercise
3) There are options to first learn opening buttons or snaps which is easier than closing them.
4) This activity can be adapted to perform sitting by suspended the materials from the ceiling above the person’s table area.
5) Manipulating clothing fasteners is a common school or day program goal and very functional!
Try to start out using extra-large buttons, snaps, zippers or other clothing fasteners if you can find them to make learning easier.
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
431
views
Suspended Velcro Sensory- Motor Activity
Suspend a strip of Loop Velcro from the ceiling or other high surface. Provide pictures with Hook Velcro on the backs to attach or remove from the suspended strip. The clients can place the removed pictures on a board or insert them into a container. Things I love about this activity:
1) It’s easier to visually attend when working with materials suspended in front of your face
2) It’s really difficult to attach or remove Velcro pictures from the strip using only one hand. Therefore, clients will work on bilateral hand skills
3) This activity involves movement! Clients are out of their seats, possibly moving across the room to place the pictures on a board. They also receive vestibular stimulation as they move from high- low while attaching or removing the pictures.
4) It takes some problem solving to make all the pictures fit on the strip. They may need to move the pictures around to make adequate space for pictures to fit between other pictures. This activity develops spatial relationship skills!
5) Last but not least, the clients are working with a moving, suspended strip of Velcro. This develops eye-hand coordination.
The blind client shown in the video was already familiar with removing Velcro from a board to insert into a container. This activity added a new twist and a bit of challenge to an activity that was getting a bit boring. Making small changes to successful activities is a great way to increase 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
614
views
Vibrating Velcro Board for Developmental Disabilities
This Flannel board Velcro activity is fun and helps engage the most distractible clients. I wedged the top of a large piece of white fabric into the space between the wall and board. The shapes with Hook Velcro on the back came from various games that were no longer being used and they attached to the fabric. I also happened to have a vibrating cushion with Loop Velcro pieces attached and an outlet below. Now my clients can
1) attach or remove shapes or pictures attached with Velcro
2) press a hand to feel the vibration
3)work on using hands together by holding the container
I love how clients are more easily engaged when working with materials at eye level. The individual in the video loves to move and this adaptation enables him to visually attend, develop bilateral hand skills -while standing and moving. When finished, staff folded up the fabric for easy storage.
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
11K
views
Lumbar Support while at the Beach
Carrying a pack and dragging a towel across the beach can be.... well.. a drag. Here is my simple solution to avoid tripping and lower back pain caused by carrying a heavy load.
The lumbar area is your lower back and lack of adequate support may result in lower back pain. A "Lumbar support" may be a cushion pressed between the lower back and back of chair. Some backpacks are ergonomically designed to support that area while walking but this one is not. This may be especially helpful when carrying a heavy load. Benefits to using a rolled up towel for lumbar support is
1) you won't trip on the towel
2) you won't have to carry the towel
3) the towel is not as sweaty as the backpack and can be soaked in water first.
Have a cool summer !
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
8.43K
views
Hand Exercises for Client with Spasticity
The swiveling grasping handle to a Push-Up exercise tool is perfect in opening up my client's hand and promoting active movement. She had a brain injury and her right hand has limited active range of motion and motor control. However, this tool seems to compensate for her movement impairment by swiveling as she moves. Her movement is more fluid than when simply grasping a rolled up towel and attempting to touch my finger.
I’m sure that I will discover other fun and unique uses of this tool. Let me know if you do, too!
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
8.82K
views
Make-your-Own Pegboard with Pill Bottles and Foam
Attach a piece of foam to a wall or cabinet to create a vertical plane “peg board”. I made the pegs by filling old pills bottles with beads, penny, marbles or other materials to make sounds. My clients love to shake them! Young children with or without disabilities will benefit from this easy to make activity because:
1. Working in the vertical plane strengthens shoulders and arms
2. Its easier to visually attend to materials right in front of your face than looking down on a table.
3. Promote using hands together by holding a container filled with “pegs”
4. You can incorporate movement by placing materials across the room or on the floor so that children or clients need to move up and down to retrieve and place the pegs
5. These “pegs” are very large and easy to grasp and place-perfect for building motor control.
Obviously, this activity can also be used on a table and one of my clients who is blind loves to shake, insert them and feel the foam texture. The bottles can be covered with bright duct tape to add visual fun and the option to create color patterns. Adding sensory stimulation to ordinary activities can make all the difference in motivating people of all ages to build hand skill!
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
103
views
Packing Foam Activities for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
I found this thick foam in a storage closet at work and thought --"that would feel nice to use in fine motor activities" I first used it on a table for individuals to insert shakers made out of pill containers. Then I thought of the magnetic pegs and white board in the program room. I tied the foam onto the board and demonstrated how to walk to a table, retrieve a peg and walk to the board for insertion. This is shown in the vide...…..This was beneficial because:
1) this client loves to walk.
2) this client tends to hunch over so reaching up to place the pegs helped her posture
3) she worked on a multistep task which is a bit more interesting and challenging (in my humble opinion)
4)she has poor motor control and these large pegs are easy to push into the deep foam holes.
Pulling strips of fabric in and out of the foam is not quite weaving and its not quite lacing. But its very wonderful because - as you know-the foam feels great. In addition, she is wheelchair bound and this is relatively good exercise with all the reaching. But most importantly, the client is doing meaningful occupation. She had a stroke and now has dementia repeatedly telling me that she used to love quilting.
This is every occupational therapists dream- being able to help her patient to resume a leisure activity that is similar to what she previously was able to do but adapted to much easier and successful
.
Also shown in the video is a woman with hemiplegia who is able to use her affected left side to stabilize the foam. I love when my clients STABILIZE!
Notice the clever blue needle adaptation made out of a plastic piece cut from a coffee container. I didn't notice until one of the clients pointed out that the needle had a picture of coffee on it. I just happened to luck out and it smells great. Cut a simple opening to push the end of a fabric strip through. This makes it easier to grasp and push through the foam holes.
Options: Making the task more cognitive challenging
1) teach specific types of stitches or a design
2) do a color sequence knotting strips of red, white and blue perhaps for a United states flag theme
3) Provide a model with color patterns to copy.
If you come up with any more ideas on how to use the foam please share…..
Oh..... and in case you are wondering- I am really fast at cutting fabric strips out of the piles of unwanted tubes and piles of folded cloth retrieved from a Recycling program . Most of it is fleece which gives us really nice tactile touch sensory stimulation which weaving or lacing or whatever......
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
18.4K
views
Girl with Developmental Disabilities Presses Switch Using Toy or Hand
A girl with developmental disabilities enjoys pressing a switch that activates sensory stimulation. In this case, I connected a massager inside a cushion and fan. She requires a lot of time to process what she wants to do motorically. I can see her thinking about whether to press the switch using the toy in her right hand or her less preferred left hand. She clearly does NOT want to release the toy and involving both hands is the solution!
Activating sensory devices like fans, massagers, bubble machines or radios gives the client or student control over their environment. It helps them to involve their hands in functional activities and teaches them about cause and effect relationships- such as "I touch the yellow panel and the fan blows. "
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
15.8K
views
Money Skills for Developmentally Disabled Individuals
I prefer to teach money skills by incorporating them into fine-motor activities. Laminated pictures of coins or paper bills may be sorted into containers or stuffed into envelopes. They can match and attach two pictures using paper clips or squeeze clips. The money shown in the video has holes punched so that they can be hung on hook boards, strung on cord or used in ring stack tasks. (Make the pictures and holes larger when using on ring stacks)
Individuals with developmental disabilities can work on skills such as:
1) Identifying coins
2) Naming the value of coins
3) Naming the person in the picture on the coin
4) Saying the value of the coin
5) Adding up the coin values at any point while stringing or stacking them.
Notice the blue bag attached to the board. I filled it up with the laminated money pictures along with sensory items such as pennies, cotton balls, beads, pom poms, foam pieces or beans. Of course, do not use this adaptation with individuals who may put them in their mouths. However, its fun to sift the fingers through the materials while selecting the laminated pictures.
Clients who do not have the cognitive skills to identify, match or sort money may simply enjoy stringing or removing them to place back in the bag. Using money pictures to perform simple fine motor tasks is a great age-appropriate strategy to work on basic 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
8.48K
views
Magnetic Building sets for sequencing and Motor Control
I not only love to make therapeutic activities out of recycled materials….. I am also excited to create entirely new activities out of materials that are broken, in storage or simply not being used anymore. I discovered the magnetic building block toy in a program room closet. But it is pretty challenging for most of my clients. The directions are to copy diagrams of shapes created by connecting the pegs and balls. I happened to have some metal washers and a broken Connect 4 frame and turned the materials into a very versatile activity that develops
1) Eye-hand coordination to place the pegs inside the Connect 4 frame sections
2) sequencing skills to place the washer, color paper on top, matching color magnetic peg and finally the ball on top.
3) Motor control to keep the pegs upright and fix when they do fall.
4) Sensory stimulation from the pull and push of magnetic materials placed in and out of the coffee can
5) Flexibility to use the materials in a variety of ways
My clients benefit from movement as they place the magnetic pegs on or off the magnetic white board. I cut paper circles out of construction paper to add the color matching step, but this is optional. Purchase small or larger materials according to the child or client’s motor abilities. Offer an opportunity to draw circles on the white board to place the magnets inside. Someone will surely love wiping the board clean!
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
708
views
Social Skills Sorting Task for Developmentally Disabled Client
This client loves to sort but he does not like to share or take turns. He is nonverbal. I am teaching him to sort only the yellow, red and blue colors into the 3 containers close to him and to hand me the colors that I need. I am sorting green, purple and orange pictures into the 3 containers in front of me. I mixed up all the colors/pictures and gave each of us 1/2 the pile so that we need to give the other person the pictures that are not on our perspective sides. This was kind of hard for him to do because he didn't want to share the activity with me, but he learned the rules pretty quickly. I think that this activity will help him better tolerate others in his space and engage with his peers through a shared task.
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
View this video to learn how to make the Snap Lid Board https://rumble.com/v7c2oc-make-your-own-snap-cover-board-for-developing-hand-skills.html
647
views
EAZYHold Grasp Adaptation for Developmental Disabilities
My client loves to grasp and shake objects. He is blind and this video demonstrates one of the few functional hand skills he enjoys. He loves the freedom of grasping independently that the EazyHold provides. The tambourine sound in the background is actually made by a different individual and the client shown is playing along with her. I wish I could share his great big smile.
https://eazyhold.com/
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
612
views
Deaf-Blind Client Developing Fine-Motor Skills
The client in the video is blind, deaf and developmentally disabled. He appears to enjoy insertion tasks, but will stop if they are too challenging. I think that he enjoys inserting the magnetic pieces because he can feel how they connect and separate and they don’t go flying all over the place. This activity works on motor control, finger dexterity and stabilizing materials with one hand. He typically avoids using his hands together but here he is working independently for several minutes-a huge success for him!
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.fromflappingtofunction.com
562
views
Shoe Bag Sorting Activity for Developmental Disabilities
Shoe bag organizers are great for sorting activities when working with young children or adults with developmental disabilities. I sewed a different color object to the outside of the shoe sections.
My philosophy is that if a client has the skills to sort, identify pictures or read then I should try to incorporate using these cognitive skills. The video shows 3 different clients:
1. One has great color matching skills but he is unable to read
2. Another is able to sort the colors AND read the color names in order to put the paper into the matching color pocket and
3. The last client shown is unable to match or sort colors, but he enjoys removing the items from the sections and inserting them into a container.
This activity also works on using hands together, reaching and motor eye-hand coordination. Many of my clients love repetitive tasks such as this and find it relaxing. Fortunately, its easy to find small colorful objects or to cut your own from paper, magazines or plastic containers.
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.fromflappingtofunction.com
1.47K
views
Bilateral File Organizer Activity for Individuals with Autism
A file organizer was adapted by snipping the center of all the horizontal bars except the top and bottom. I found out that if you snip all of the bars, you end up with two separate pieces! The edges of the cut bars are rough so you may want to cover them with duct tape. I attached a plastic container at the top of the organizer to use for storage and to insert/remove the pieces.
Now the fun part: Cut up plastic shapes or laminated pictures that your clients enjoy. Punch holes in the centers and enlarge them as needed. Some clients may prefer removing the shapes, others may prefer attaching and some want to do it all..... This activity works on the following skills:
• Using hands together
• Crossing midline in both directs
• Eye-hand coordination
• Identifying shapes or pictures
Options: Place the file organizer higher to encourage reaching. Place the shapes/pictures in a container on the floor, high up or across the room to incorporate movement. I found that this activity made a very active client who likes busy hands very happy!
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.fromflappingtofunction.com
423
views
Bilateral Rings for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
These rings are easy to cut out of all the vibrant, colorful, plastic containers in the recycling bin (especially if you drink coffee) and require using hands together to pull open and attach to a tube or giant ring stack. The ring stack shown in the video is too large to drop the rings down the traditional way, from the top. So, my clients need to pull them open to attach. This is great to work on
• using hands together
• sequencing steps to pull and place
• providing sensory stimulation from pulling/pushing into place
• integrating movement by retrieving rings from high or low surfaces
The video also shows a client with hemiplegia who avoids using his weaker, less coordinated left hand. He was not happy about this set up but the more he uses his left hand, the better he is at tasks that involve stabilization with the left and manipulation with his right hand.
This activity works on many different skills and the rings are FREE!
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.fromflappingtofunction.com
544
views
Make-Your-Own: Snap-Cover Board for Developing Hand Skills
The “Snap Lid Board” enables children or adults with developmental disabilities to practice skills that will help them to open and close food and other pull-lid containers. This is a very functional daily living skill that also works on
1) Visual attention
2) Upper extremity strength
3) Bilateral hand coordination
4) Sorting by a category and/or
5) Eye hand coordination to string onto the pipe cleaners
I showed my clients how to listen for the click sound that indicates that the lids snapped in place. People with learning challenges benefit from the repetitive practice- six times pushing the lid into place! Pushing or pulling the lids requires force as it stimulates the proprioceptive sensory receptors in the arm/hand muscles and joints. Many children or adults with sensory processing disorders avoid pushing with their palms possibly due to touch sensitivities and decreased strength. Let’s distract them from the fact that this is exactly what they need to do in order to make the cover snap into place. Finally, the “stand up the frame” test will indicate success or need for more pushing…….
Have fun turning the board into a sorting or lacing activity as your children or clients fill the containers according to color, shape, size or another category. Another option is to string beads or shapes with holes onto the pipe cleaners.
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
849
views
Movement Hand Activity for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
These open-ended rings are cut from the handles of detergent bottles. They come in different shapes, colors, sizes and are easier to manipulate than shower curtain rings. Best of all they are FREE! The following video demonstrates how to create the rings:
https://rumble.com/v78zu1-file-organizer-fine-motor-activity-for-individuals-with-developmental-disab.html
This video demonstrates how much fun it is to attach to a hoop or cord suspended across the room. My clients get exercise as they walk across the room to retrieve more materials or remove/insert them into a container placed on the floor. My clients need exercise and movement provides calming sensory stimulation! This activity develops visual attention, bilateral coordination and is fun to slide the shapes along the hoop. Try suspending the hoop from the ceiling to strengthen arms.
Children or adults may be at the level where they are learning to use hands together to remove the shapes. Others will learn how to attach them while strengthening fingers and developing motor control. Individualize according to the needs of your child, student or client.
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
39
views
Teaching Children How to Form Writing Lines
Here are a few strategies that help children learn to form vertical and horizontal lines. But let’s start with scribbling….
Babies typically learn the joys of scribbling between 13 and 18 months of age. Provide lots of large paper, dry erase and chalk surfaces to scribble on, as well as sensory-based “scribbling” in pudding, whip cream, wet sand or shaving cream inside a zipped baggy.
The 18 to 24 months old toddler is typically ready to learn how to form lines with the pointer finger. Demonstrate drawing vertical and horizontals during messy play and using fun, easy to see and feel boundaries such as those shown in the video!
1. Mermaid pillows
2. Dry erase boards
3. Plastic, cardboard or carpet squares with window cut-outs
4. Bottles and other surfaces with grooves
5. Long thin boxes to draw on top of or inside
Try cutting strips of sandpaper or bubble wrap to draw on. Start out with large pieces and then narrower as the child develops motor control. These early “pre-writing” experiences prepare children to form the vertical and horizontal lines used to form letters and have fun doing so!
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.fromflappingtofunction.com
11K
views
File Organizer Fine-Motor Activity for Individuals with Developmental disabilities
I love activities that are versatile and free! I made this activity out of a file organizer that I found at work and detergent/dishwasher soap plastic bottles. This video demonstrates how I use heavy duty scissors to cut up plastic bottle handles to create small shapes that can be attached or removed from the file organizer or other similar objects. (I apologize that I haven’t thought up a good name for these objects, yet….)
There are many benefits to this activity and here are just a few:
1) The plastic is vibrant and colorful and can be used for color matching or sorting on the file organizer levels.
2) The file organizer creates a vertical plane activity that promotes visual attention, reaching and upright posture.
3) The plastic pieces can be cut into smaller or larger sizes. Use larger or smaller plastic bottles to control your size options.
4) Some individuals will be best at removing the shapes. That’s easier than attaching them! Choose your options according to the individual's skill level.
5) The file organizer can be rotated to explore how the individual is most successful in attaching or removing the shapes.
6) When plastic gets lost, simply cut up more bottles! No expensive pieces to replace!
7) The individuals need to stabilize with one hand while attaching or removing the pieces. For some people that is a skill that needs to be worked on!
8) The file organizer may be placed on top of a box so that the client is reaching and working on an upright posture.
9) Movement can be incorporated into the activity by setting up a box of plastic shapes across the room or on the floor so that the individual needs to walk across the room or move high and low to retrieve materials.
10) It feels good to slide the plastic pieces across the file organizer. Some individuals will focus on the sensory aspects as they have fun touching, sliding and pulling the materials.
Please be sure that you keep small objects away from children or adults with developmental disabilities who may put them in their mouth, creating a choking hazard. By the way, parents may create this activity for their typically developing preschool age children as they work on color matching/sorting and manipulation skills.
Learn about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
553
views
Vertical Board Stencil Activity for Individual with Autism
Its easy to draw and cut out a simple stencil from a folder or other cardboard. Its so easy, I suggest making a new and different one every day for children or adults with or without developmental disabilities. The individuals may work at a table, on an angled book stand on the table, the floor or work while standing at a white board as shown in the video.
This activity promotes the following skills:
1. Visual attention to the materials since they are directly in front of one’s face
2. Strengthening shoulders through reaching and pressing
3. Stabilizing the stencil while coloring (bilateral hand skills)
4. Eye-hand coordination
5. Sensory stimulation to eyes, muscles, joints, vestibular system while pressing to color and wiping the board clean, as well as walking side to side and high/low to reach all parts of the board.
The client shown in the video loves pictures. She has a very limited vocabulary but “pictures” is one of her favorite words. Using stencils enables her to make her very own pictures while working on the above skills. It takes a lot of trial and error to find successful activities, but its very rewarding when you do!
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
1.11K
views
Moose in the Grand Canyon
It is always exciting to see moose, but especially at the majestic Grand Canyon! This video shows the child and parent moose feeding in the southern rim woods. Another video captures them hanging out on a ledge surrounded by awe inspiring scenery. Hubby and I walked down to the bottom, spent 2 nights at Phantom Ranch and walked back up. We only saw moose while walking around the rim, but I am grateful that we were able to safely film while so close to them. These moose are used to tourists!
Learn about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
21
views
Multi-sensory Switch Activities for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
Its more fun to engage in hand activities when activating sensory rich electronic devices such as an aquarium lamp, massager, fan or music. I set up a table with a control panel that plugged into an electric outlet. The yellow push panel switch and the 2 electric cords (to lamp and massager) plugged into the control panel. The control panel has settings so that the device(s) can
1. go on or off when the yellow switch is pressed
2. the devices stay on as long as the switch is pressed or
3. a timer is set so that it stays on after pressed for a select amount of time as shown in the video.
The clients in the video are enjoying the “cause and effect” relationship of pressing the switch to activate devices. I think that they appreciate the control they have to make the lamp and massager go on whenever they want. The sensory and novelty aspects of this set-up certainly make ring stacks and insertion tasks more engaging. Notice the large rings on the table that can be placed over the lamp.
This activity can be adapted to encourage exercise by placing the materials (e.g. rings or bean bags) on the floor or across the room so that walking and moving up and down are required. The young lady sitting at the table loves the sensory devices (radio, lamp, fan and massager) so I hope that I can use them to motivate her to get out of her seat and move!
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
1.83K
views
Pigs on Grand Canyon Rim
The pigs near the rest rooms on the southern Grand Canyon rim didn't seem to mind the tourists. I think the look on the pig's face is funny as he listens to an Asian language. Any ideas on what she is saying?
It seems like using selfie sticks and taking photos of young girls sitting precariously on a ledge above the canyon were common in certain cultures!
Learn about occupational therapy and activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
194
views