Reader tip: Weighted pen for those who press too hard

Every now and then I receive an email from a reader who has tried something they've seen on my blog or who has an experience that they'd like to share. I recently received an email from a reader who came across my post on weighted pencils and wanted to share another reason why someone might like to add some weight to their pen or pencil. Read on to learn more!

 

Abby,

I found your site when looking for pen weights and thought you might want to know about a connection that I figured out between pressing too hard when writing and aversion to light touch as well as a possible fix.

I have autism with severe sensory issues (hypersensitivity, hyposensitivity, discrimination problems, AND seeking, hoo-rah). After rendering my favorite felt tip pens nearly unusable after taking pages and pages of notes with them in a short period of time, I decided to try writing as lightly as possible and analyzing what sensory or motor issues could be causing that. Well, it didn't take long, because after writing only a few letters, I squealed and dropped the pen in favor of rapidly shaking the "ick" off my hand. Writing lighter feels exactly like light touch! Same skin-crawling sensation.

I put a 2 ounce glob of therapy putty on the end of the pen and tried again, and I was able to write with much, much less pressure. I didn't even have to try; I instinctively used less because of the extra proprioceptive input canceling out that icky light touch.

Most places I've seen say to use weights for people who write too lightly, but if you have patients (or relatives, friends, etc.) who write with too much pressure and also are averse to light touch, you might want to try out weights with them, too.

Sincerely,

A Huge Proprioceptive Seeker

This is such an interesting perspective on the use of a weighted pen! Who knew that writing lightly (or with a standard amount of pressure) could cause an icky light touch sensation? Definitely something for me to keep in mind when working with students who press too hard.

As far as I know, there is still limited (or no?) research on the effectiveness of weighted pens and pencils, but here's another anecdotal story to add to the evidence. Someone needs to research this! (Hint, hint! OT students!)

To be completely honest, I don't use weighted pens or pencils with students very often because I don't like the way it makes their pencil look so different. I'm glad this reader discovered a way to write more comfortably, but who wants to have a wad of putty on the end of their pencil? Or a bunch of bolts? Tell me, have you found a good way to add weight to a pen or pencil without it looking unsightly? I'd love to hear your suggestions!


P.S. I'd like to give a huge shout out to Christie of Mama OT for taking the picture seen in this post for me, when I couldn't get my hands on any putty quickly to adapt a pen myself! 

P.P.S Thanks to the reader who allowed me to share this story!

 

Holiday Gift Guide 2012 - Gifts for "sensory kids"

Has your child been called a "sensory kid?" Is your child always on the go? Constantly climbing, jumping, spinning, running? Or is your child overly sensitive to sensory stimulation, covering his ears in loud places or preferring to only wear soft clothes? Today I'm going to provide some gift suggestions for Sensory Seekers and Sensory Avoiders. Remember, you know your child's preferences best ant it is not uncommon for children to demonstrate behaviors of both sensory seeking and sensory avoiding.

Sensory Seekers:

Sensory Seekers are those kids that are always on the go. They may be climbing on furniture, jumping off of furniture, or touching everything they see. Sensory Seekers crave sensory information and need additional sensory input to regulate their bodies.

Trampoline with a handle

- For the sensory seeker who is always jumping and on the go. A small trampoline, used with supervision, can provide the sensory input your child is seeking.

Rody Horse

- A Rody Horse is fun to bounce around on, providing lots of movement, as well as vestibular input.

Pillow Racer

- Pillow Racers are a soft ride-on toy that are easy to maneuver in all directions, including spinning in a circle. Sensory seekers may enjoy the vestibular input provided by this toy.

Snug 'n Secure Swing

- For little ones who love to swing, the Little Tykes Snug 'n Secure Swing is a great option.

Edushape balls

- Edushape balls provide a great tactile experience for sensory seekers.

Pounding Bench

 
- A classic pounding bench develops hand eye coordination AND it provides proprioceptive feedback to the hands and arms, for those who seek additional input.

Gelli Baff

- I haven't actually seen Gelli Baff in action, but it looks like an interesting concept. It turns water into "goo" and back. Could be a good tactile activity for sensory seekers. Has anyone else tried this? [Update: This might not be the best for your plumbing. Please see the reader comments below]

Zibbies

- Does your child need a fidget to keep his or her hands busy? Zibbies are stuffed animals with koosh ball-like hair. 

Sensory Avoiders:

Sensory Avoiders are those kids who avoid sensations or become easily overwhelmed with too much sensory input. Too much sensory input may cause these children to tantrum or shut down.

Sound Blocking Head Phones

- Sound blocking head phones can be just what the sensory avoider needs to get through certain situations, such as a noisy car ride or a wait in the reception area of the doctor's office. These also come in pink or blue.

Seamless Socks

- Seamless socks can work wonders for children who are bothered by tags and seems in their clothing. Also look for tagless clothes, which luckily is not hard to find these days, since most children's clothing has now gone tagless.

Crayola Mess Free Markers

- For children who do not like to get their hands messy, Crayola's Mess Free Markers are a good option. The only downside is, you will also need the appropriate paper to go with these markers.

Kids Tent

- An indoor child-size tent can create the perfect getaway or quiet spot for the sensory avoider. Throw some soft pillows and blankets inside to create a safe sensory spot for your child.

Gifts for the Sensory Seeker or Sensory Avoider:

Some toys can be appropriate for both Sensory Seekers and Sensory Avoiders. Here are a few examples.

Touch and Feel Books

- For sensory avoiders of tactile input, Touch and Feel books are a safe way to slowly experience a variety of textures. For sensory seekers, the tactile input provided by Touch and Feel books can be more engaging than a typical board book.

IKEA Hammock Swing

- For older children who like to swing, this hammock swing from IKEA provides vestibular input. Sensory avoiders may enjoy the cozy getaway that a hammock swing provides.

Sensory Books:

There are now several books that help explain sensory "issues" to children. Similar to a social story, these books allow the child to relate to a character who is experiencing the same sensory sensitivities as him/herself.
 

Sensitive Sam

- Sensitive Sam shares a typical day in Sam's life, in which his over sensitivity causes distress in his life. Sam's teacher recommends that he go to an occupational therapist, and OT is also described in a non-threatening, kid-friendly way.
  

Arnie and His School Tools

- Arnie and His School Tools tells the story of Arnie, who is an active boy who had trouble paying attention in school until he was given the sensory tools he needed to meet his sensory needs.

Squirmy Wormy

- Squirmy Wormy tells the story of Tyler, who has autism and sensory processing disorder. Tyler learns about sensory processing disorder and what he can do to help himself feel better.

Why Does Izzy Cover Her Ears?

- Why Does Izzy Cover Her Ears? shows how Izzy learns to cope with sensory overload in her new school. This is the only sensory book that I have come across that features a girl as the main character.

Please add to the list! What are must-haves for the sensory seekers or sensory avoiders in your life?

Looking for even more ideas? Be sure to check out my Amazon Store!

*This post contains affiliate links.

Five Friday Features

1. Did you see my guest post for These Broken Vases on Monday? No, then head on over to read my activity suggestions for children with Down syndrome. While you're there, be sure to browse the rest of Ellen's blog and her website, too. I especially love her writing prompts. They are always thought provoking and give a jump start if you're having a bout of writer's block.
2. Looking for some last minute Thanksgiving craft ideas? I love these Gratitude Turkeys from Modern Parents Messy Kids. No Time for Flashcards also has a fun 3D Handprint Turkey Craft.
3. Therapists, are you interested in receiving a free game? Of course you are! Blue Orange Games is giving a free Spot It! game to the first 200 therapists to sign up for their newsletter. This is a great game to work on visual scanning skills. Click here to enter
4. Why listening is so much more than hearing. Interesting article in the New York Times.
5. And on the topic of hearing, what does sensory overload sound like? If you only click on one of my links this week, this should be the one! Thank you NPR for bringing this fantastic video to my attention!

Halloween is right around the corner!

With Halloween coming up, now is a good time to review AOTA's Tip Sheet for Enjoying Halloween with Sensory Challenges. You can also read my Halloween tips here and tips from Sensory Smart Parents by clicking here. Lisa Quinones-Fontanez also shared some great tips on To The Max on Making Halloween Fun For Kids With Autism.

Yahoo Voices has some recommendations for Halloween costumes for sensitive kiddos, using mostly clothing that your child already wears to create a costume. That may make it easier for your child to accept wearing the costume.

Some tasty treats for Halloween:

Simple Pumpkin Cookies from Stephanie at Early Intervention Speech Therapy
And here are a couple of my favorites from last year:
Sweet and Salty Pumpkin Seeds
Dirt and Worms (this recipe helps develop fine motor skills, too!)

Halloween crafts:

Handprint Spider from Housing a Forest
Fall leaf fine motor craft 
4 Halloween Fine Motor Activities from MamaOT
Fine motor pumpkin from Embrace Your Chaos
Clothespin Spiders

Get messy:

Pumpkin spice playdough

Visit Growing a Jeweled Rose to learn how to make pumpkin scented paint or pumpkin scented cloud dough.
If your little ones aren't quite ready to get messy, Miss Mancy has a great Touch, Feel, and Sort Halloween activity, which also works on fine motor skills. Gotta love that!

Get up and move:

Ghost bowling from No Time for Flashcards (works on fine motor skills, too!)
Miss Mancy has a fun spider maze to work on lots of OT skills.
Take those pumpkins outside and do some chuckin' pumpkin painting. I love this idea from Childhood Beckons!

Read:

Sensory Smart Parent recommends reading the book, Go Away Big Green Monster, with your child prior to Halloween, to address fears and how to manage them.



Pam Dahm, of Chit Chat and Small Talk, shared a Trick or Treating Social Story. Social stories are another great way to help prepare your child for Halloween.


What are you doing to prepare your child for Halloween?

Five Friday Features

And the Easy Tie Shoelace winners are...Lisa and "just me". Please email me with your mailing address and I will get your shoelaces in the mail!

1. Did you know that October is Sensory Awareness Month? Visit Simply Stavish to read my guest post: What Every Parent Should Know About Sensory Processing Disorder. Be sure to poke around Mindi's blog while you are there. She has tons of great content about speech and language!
2. Handwriting Without Tears is offering a free online seminar on Tuesday, October 30 from 8-9PM EST. The seminar, Top 10 Questions About Handwriting, is sure to be full of useful information about handwriting education. I've watched Handwriting Without Tears seminars in the past and I'm always impressed with the organization and content. In my opinion, they are especially useful for new practitioners, parents and teachers.
3. Do you use tongs and chopsticks all of the time to work on fine motor skills? MamaOT had a great tutorial on how to make kiddie chopsticks. Check it out! These chopsticks are easier to use than traditional chopsticks and are a great way to develop fine motor skills. (And she had a great follow up for 50 fun ways to play with tongs)
4. OT research in the news!!! Occupational therapy researchers from NYU found that classroom yoga helps improve behavior of kids with autism.
5. Didn't win the shoelaces? Don't despair! I have another giveaway. This one is from Educational Insights. Educational Insights manufactures educational toys and hands-on learning materials. And they've been kind enough to sponsor a $50 giveaway! Click here to find out what you have to do to enter. (Hint: it's really easy!)

October is Sensory Awareness Month

Do you want to learn more about sensory processing? Well, you're in luck! Today I am over at Simply Stavish sharing what sensory processing is and how problems with sensory processing might present in children. Head on over to read all about it!

Never visited Simply Stavish before? Simply Stavish is written by Mindi, a pediatric speech-language pathologist and mom to two young boys. She shares her thoughts on parenting, photos of her family life, and ways to turn everyday moments into language learning opportunities. While you're there, be sure to check out her super-useful language development stages for birth to age 5 and Eating 101: Picky Eater vs Feeding Disorder. I promise you will not be disappointed with anything you read over on Simply Stavish!

Friday Features

This week I...

- Shared tips for helping students who press too hard when writing over at Dr. Anne Zachry's blog, Pediatric Occupational Therapy Tips.

- packed and I cleaned. And then I packed some more and cleaned some more. How did I accumulate so much stuff? Anyway, I think I'm almost done. We hit the road for our cross country move on Tuesday. I'm very excited to be a resident of the East Coast! I can't wait to experience four seasons again! My blog might be a little quiet for the next month or so, but I will try to post now and then. I do have some families lined up for the Parent's Perspective series, so be sure to check back every Wednesday for more great tips from parents!

Friday Features Links:

I have lots of great information starred in my google reader this week, so here we go:

- Handwriting Without Tears is offering a free online seminar, Get Set For School: Top 10 Ways to Prepare Your Children for Kindergarten, on August 21. I've watched this seminar in the past, and it has great tips for parents and educators.

- Ellen, over at Love That Max, interviewed a member of the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council and received lots of great tips on the best swim gear for kids with special needs.

- Another great post at Love That Max. A reader is looking for IEP tips. Please go over and share your experiences! Or just read through the tips readers have already shared!

- Thank you to Carol at OT's With Apps for the heads up that Skill Game by Good Apps is free for a short time. This looks like a good app to work on visual motor/perceptual skills in older students. I just downloaded it and can't wait to try it out! By the way, if you're looking for good apps to use in therapy, you should definitely follow her blog!

- This week I came across Miss Mancy's blog. What a great find! Written by an OT, it is full of creative therapeutic activities, especially fine motor activities.

- Remember back in May when the pediatric OT world was shaken up by The American Academy of Pediatrics statement on the use of sensory integration therapy? AOTA President, Dr. Florence Clark, has written an essay on the current status of sensory integration therapy. She is optimistic about the future of sensory integration therapy, but I think it still boils down to, OTs need to be doing more research to support the interventions we use. What do you think?

- CHASA has a new Ask the Professor feature on their website. Dr. Andrew Gordon will be answering questions related to hand therapy, hemiplegic cerebral palsy, and related topics. This is sure to be a great resource for parents!

- Columbia University has developed a new intervention for children with hemiplegia called Hand-Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy (HABIT). It is an intensive therapy, as is Constraint Induced Movement Therapy, but in HABIT the focus is on the use of both hands. Researchers are currently looking for study participants. Click here to learn more about participation.

- Stuart Duncan, of Autism from a Father's Point of View, who has autism himself, wrote an interesting post titled, Autism is. His perspective is always interesting and this post is definitely worth a read.


I did not intentionally seek out extra links this week, it just so happened that a lot of articles caught my eye. This should be enough reading material to keep you busy for a few weeks while I make my way to the East Coast! Happy reading!

A Parent's Perspective - Having a Fields Day

I'd like to give a big welcome to the first blogger to share a parent's perspective on life with a child with special needs. Allie is mom to three year old Cameron, who has been diagnosed with autism, hyperlexia, sensory processing disorder, pediatric eating/feeding disorder, and mixed expressive receptive language disorder (MERLD) and four year old Sarah Hazel, who has been diagnosed with sensory processing disorder, expressive language disorder, and has early signs of auditory processing disorder. You can read all about their journey at Having a Fields Day. 

Our life in five words:

chaotic, tiresome, confusing, loving, ever-changing

Four qualities I look for in a therapist:

1. Empathy
2. Compassion
3. A real interest in helping my child
4. Someone who is open to trying new things if something is not working 

Three resources I can't live without:

Kid Companions Chewelry Necklace - Sarah Hazel has one that she chews on when she is away from home and beginning to go into sensory overload. It's really helped to keep her calm and focused.

Affordable Therapy Solutions Pressure Vest - This helps to calm Cameron quickly and get him back on track, especially during therapy sessions and in classroom settings.

My children's therapists - One of the resources I use the most is actually my children's therapists. They have provided me with information about my children's disorders, places to find more info, ideas of things to buy for carryover therapy into the home, information about area conferences and mom retreats and support groups. We have been blessed with the best therapists, many of which have become great friends.

Two words (or more!) of advice for therapists working with children:

Get to know the family and listen to their concerns. Help them find resources so they don't feel lost, alone, and confused with their child's diagnosis. You may be the only support they have!

A word of advice for the parents of a child newly diagnosed with autism:

Reach out for help. Network with other parents who have been where you are and also some who are newly diagnosed. Be each others should to cry on. Nothing is better than having someone in your life who truly gets it.

One dream for my child:

Friday Features

This week I...
- was told by the sibling of one of my early intervention clients that I am a superhero therapist :)  I wonder what my superpower is? His comment reminded me of this cover of a recent OT Practice magazine.

-started to say goodbye to some of the kids and families I work with. Due to an upcoming cross country move this summer, as the school year winds down, I'm seeing some of my students for the last time :(


Friday Features Links:
- Ellen Seidman of Love That Max, wrote an excellent Mother's Day article, What I Know About Motherhood Now That I Have A Child With Special Needs.

- Cheri Fraker of Food Chaining, posted an overview of medical research articles relevant to feeding therapists. Click here to read the summary.

- And last, but definitely not least, I absolutely love this idea to create homemade fidgets using playdoh, plastic wrap, and a sock, posted by OT Tools for Public Schools. I don't know about you, but after having a balloon filled with flour explode in a classroom, I definitely need some new ideas for homemade fidgets. Teachers do not appreciate having to clean up a flour explosion! And did I mention, no sewing involved!! That's always a plus for me!

Friday Features

This week I...
- enthusiastically proclaimed, "you did it!" after one of my students cut out this circle (those curves can be so tricky!) and he replied, "I made a hexagon." Well, I guess if you want to get technical about it, he appears to be right :)

- prepped for the six IEPs that I have next week! The end of the school year is near...I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

- finally got around to writing my review of Happy Mealtimes with Happy Kids. If you missed it, be sure to check it out here. It's a great book for OTs to add to their resources for parents. 

Friday Features Links:
- Embrace Your Chaos wrote an article, Dealing With End-of-the Year Burnout. When I saw the title, I thought it was going to provide tips for therapists to get through the end of the year :) It's actually full of great tips for helping students regulate and focus, so they can get through the last few weeks of school. The tips might be helpful for the adults in their lives too. I know I like to go for a run before work and eat crunchy foods in the middle of the day :)

- Jill Perry, an OT over at All for My Child, wrote Ten important things my SLP colleagues taught me. This is a great article to remind OTs and other non-speech professionals how to encourage speech in the children we work with.

- The CDC has a ton of free downloads as part of their Learn the Signs. Act Early. Program. These are great to share with parents to educate about developmental milestones.

Friday Features

This week I...
~had fun playing this game with some of my students. I'm not sure where the game came from (I think someone I work with found it at the dollar store), but it's been a fun fine motor/visual motor warm up. 

~guest blogged over at Having a Fields Day, in support of Autism Awareness Month. Be sure to stop by and check out my Sensory Strategies for Toddlers with Autism!

Friday Features Links (lots of good stuff this week!):
~I know I've mentioned once or twice how much I love the Handwriting Without Tears handwriting curriculum. If you'd like to know what someone else thinks about it, visit Testy yet trying, for a detailed review by an SLP and mom.

~Allie, at Having a Fields Day, wrote a terrific post about starting the Early Intervention process. This well organized post is a great resource for parents who find themselves beginning the evaluation process for EI services.

~The Atlantic put together a touching photo gallery for Autism Awareness Month. I would love to see more group homes like the one featured at the end of this photo gallery.

~Thanks to Carol Leynse Harpold over at OT's With Apps for sharing a link to 40+ Super Secret iPad Features and Shortcuts. This was very useful to me and taught me some things I didn't know I could do with my iPad (like splitting the keyboard to make typing easier!).
 

Sensory Strategies for Toddlers with Autism

Today I am guest blogging over at Having a Fields Day, in support of Autism Awareness Month. Please stop by to check out my Sensory Strategies for Toddlers with Autism!

Tomorrow Night!!! Evening with the Expert

I just found out about a new way to earn a contact hour of education. The Spiral Foundation is hosting an Evening with the Expert! Tomorrow night, April 23, Dr. Jane Koomar will host a "LiveTalk" to discuss the relationship between trauma, attachment and sensory processing disorder. There will be time for questions, as it is meant to be a personal and interactive experience. The talk is from 7:00 - 8:00 EDT, so I'm not sure it will fit with my schedule, but it might be worth checking out for those of you on the east coast. Click here for more information or to register.

The Spiral Foundation recently held a "LiveTalk" Parent Forum on Managing Sensory Behaviors. The parent forums sound like an excellent resource for parents, so I hope they will hold more LiveTalks in the future. Visit www.thespiralfoundation.org to check out a schedule of events.

Check out the Slug Sisters!

I love the Alert Program to teach children self-regulation strategies.

Check out these videos by the Slug Sisters for a sneak peak into the Alert Program.






Be sure to check out www.alertprogram.com for more information about the Alert Program!

Friday Features

~To celebrate the upcoming OT Month, check out the word art created by Your Therapy Source by having occupational therapists complete the following statement, "I Love Occupational Therapy because..." You can even print it out and hang it up in your workplace to promote OT!

~Therapeutic Systems is creating a Vayu deep pressure vest, with the goal of creating a reimbursable medical device. This unique vest can be worn under clothing and contains a pump to adjust the level of inflation/pressure. In addition, Therapeutic Systems are working with Dr. Jane Koomar and Dr. Teresa May-Benson of The SPIRAL Foundation, which helps promote research in sensory integration and sensory processing disorder.

Parent and Teacher Friendly Resources on Sensory Integration

I am always on the lookout for resources about sensory processing that are written in parent (and teacher) friendly language. While at the Autism West Specialty Conference in December, I found what I was looking for!

Pediatric Therapy Network has created four great booklets that explain sensory integration in easy to understand language. The booklets are Sensory Integration: Answers for Parents, Sensory Integration: Answers for Teachers, Sensory Integration: Answers for Mealtime Success, and Sensory Integration: Answers About Autism.

Some of the highlights:

• Answers for Teachers contains a checklist based on teacher observations to help identify students who may be having difficulty processing sensory information.
• Answers for Teachers also contains a page of Tips for Teachers, with suggested activities for the teacher to try based on the student's behavior.
• Answers for Mealtime Success contains a page of suggested sensory activities for parents to try to assist with mealtimes.

At on $4.95 each, I couldn't pass them up! If you would like one for yourself, they can be purchased directly from Pediatric Therapy Network.

What are your favorite parent friendly resources on sensory integration? 
 

How to make a weighted glove

Despite my mom's best intentions and efforts, I do not know how to sew. I came up with a no-sew way to make a weighted glove. The glove I used was too large for the student I had in mind, so it didn't work out as well as I had hoped, but I thought I'd share it anyway.

The idea behind a weighted glove is similar to a weighted pencil. A weighted glove can provide additional sensory input to the hand for children who need the extra input to be more aware of the position of their hand. I don't often use weighted gloves because they are expensive and lack research to support their use, but every now and then I get a challenging student that I'm willing to try just about anything.

What you'll need:

• velcro
• some washers
• a mitten/glove (I found these at Target. I love that it has a button to hold the flap part back and what little boy doesn't want a Lightning McQueen glove?)

First, attach the velcro to the inside of the flap, so you can close the flap tightly.

Then, place the desired amount of washers inside the flap.

Close the flap, cut off the thumb, and now you have a weighted glove!

Like I said, the glove was too large for the student I had in mind, so I can't really report on the effectiveness of using this weighted glove. An older student spotted the glove and wanted to try it out, so here it is in action:

This is still a work in progress for me. If you try to make one, I'd recommend placing something (maybe tissue paper) inside the flap prior to putting the washers in. That will place the weight closer to the fingers (but not on top of the knuckles). 

Have you used a weighted glove with any of your students? If so, did you find it beneficial?

Sensory Friendly Films

AMC Theaters have teamed up with the Autism Society to show sensory friendly films. These showings have no previews, so they get right to the movie. Best of all, they have the lights turned up, the sound turned down, and movie-goers are invited to get up and move around during the showing!

Check out the AMC website for more information and a listing of participating theaters. My local theater is not on the list, but I know that they recently started participating in the program. If you don't see your local theater on the list, first call to see if they are participating. If they are not yet participating, the AMC website contains a contact to request a sensory friendly film in your area. A parent in my area recently did this and the first showing was such a hit that we now have regular showings of sensory friendly films!

In my therapy bag...bubble wrap

Holiday gift giving brings lots of packages with a variety of interesting packaging. I'm always looking for ways to re-use the packaging, such as bubble wrap. I often use standard bubble wrap to work on jumping (kids love to hear that pop!) and fine motor/pinching skills. The other day I received a package in the mail with a different kind of bubble wrap:

This Sealed Air bubble wrap does not pop as easily as standard bubble wrap (you can see in the first picture that an entire row is deflated, but that happened after doing the activity described below). All of the bubbles are connected, so when you squeeze one bubble, the air simply moves into the neighboring bubble.


I decided to incorporate this bubble wrap into an activity with a two year old who frequently walks on his toes. I simply had him stand on the bubble wrap while we played catch with a ball. I also had him squat to pick up toys while keeping his feet flat. The movement of air from one bubble to another slightly challenged his balance and provided additional sensory input to encourage him to keep his feet flat. This was a fun adaptation to an activity that we've done before and the new twist maintained his attention for a longer period of time!


Here's the bubble wrap in action:

For more information on toe walking, The Mayo Clinic provides a basic overview of toe walking here. For a physical therapist's point of view on toe walking, click here for information on toe walking from Dr. Joni Redlich, DPT.

The little things DO matter

At the Autism West AOTA Specialty Conference, there was a wonderful panel of parents and individuals with autism spectrum disorders who shared their experiences, including their experiences with occupational therapy. Included in this panel was a mother and her 19 year old daughter who has Asperger's. This mother shared that her daughter was having difficulty washing her hair, because she didn't fully understand where to rub the shampoo without being able to see her head. Her daughter's occupational therapist recently suggested that she use a shower mirror to provide a visual while washing her hair. Her mother immediately ordered a shower mirror and her daughter can now shower independently! It's amazing how a seemingly simple adaptation can be life changing to the families that we work with. This mother was incredibly grateful for the suggestion.


This story reminded me of the time I was working with a very bright child (6 or 7 years old) who was sensory seeking and struggled with sitting to attend to his schoolwork. At the end of one session, I gave his mother a piece of Theraband to take home to tie around the legs of her son's chair during homework time. I mentioned that she could try it for mealtime as well. She came back the following week, thrilled with the results. She informed me that she and her family are now able to eat meals together as a family, because with the added sensory input that the Theraband provided, her son could now sit through an entire meal. Another life changing adaptation!


As occupational therapists, we are skilled at adapting and modifying the environment to allow for full participation in meaningful daily activities (occupations!). To all of my fellow OTs out there, keep up the good work!