Friday Features

This week I,
 ~finally got my Pinterest account up and running. I know, I'm probably the last person to join, but if you're still not sure what all this talk about Pinterest is, you can check out AOTA's How To Use Pinterest: Tips for Occupational Therapy Practitioners. To follow me on Pinterest, just click !

~got some great resources from the OTConnections Feeding, Eating, and Swallowing Forum on behavioral techniques for feeding. Will keep you updated on what I learn and how it works out!

~downloaded a bunch of new apps for my iPad. I'm hoping to find some to encourage fine motor development in the birth to three population. Please let me know if you have any suggestions!

Friday Features links:
 ~Dr. Anne Zachry posted a series of therapy putty exercise videos on her blog this week. Click here and here to check them out!

"It has put living back in my life"

Need some inspiration this morning? Check out this great video!
Walkaide helping partially paralyzed ASU triathlete beat the odds

I finally joined Pinterest!

Check it out!

March 25 is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day!

In honor of this day, I've rounded up some resources about cerebral palsy:

• For more information about cerebral palsy diagnosis and treatment, check out the cerebral palsy page by My Child Without Limits. In addition, you can download the Guide to Cerebral Palsy at the bottom of the page.

• The Cerebral Palsy International Research Foundation is a great place to catch up on the latest research in cerebral palsy.

• AOTA has an Evidence Brief Series, which provides easy to read summaries of scientific articles. Check out the AOTA Evidence Brief on cerebral palsy to learn about evidence based practice for therapists working with children with cerebral palsy.

• Stacy Menz, of Starfish Therapies, wrote a great guest post on Friday for Love That Max: 9 best things to do for a kid with cerebral palsy (that don't feel like work). Be sure to check it out for great therapy ideas from a PT!

• I also recommend the book, Teaching Motor Skills to Children with Cerebral Palsy. This book provides a nice overview of motor milestones and how to approach them in children with cerebral palsy.

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.

How to make a slant board

A slant board provides a slanted writing surface, which can better position a student's wrist for writing. Placing writing paper on a slant board can also make it easier for the student to copy information from the board.

The price of a slant board can vary from $40-$100 in a therapy catalog, so I often make my own.

I have a student who was hooking his wrist like this (yikes!):

I made a slant board to improve the position of his wrist and now he writes like this:

     Much better!

To make your own, here's what you'll need:
 

• two old binders
• clipboard
• Velcro
• duct tape

1. Use the duct tape to tape the two binders together.

2. Attach Velcro to the back of the clipboard.

3. Attach the clipboard to the binders

vertically,













or horizontally.

Friday Features

~Dr. Anne Zachry is completing a fun project with her students, Special Kids Helping Special Kids. Special education students will work with peer tutors to complete therapeutic art projects, which will be sold to raise money for St. Jude Children's Hospital. Visit her blog to check it out and to donate to the cost of their supplies. 

~I'm excited about AOTA's new blog, OT in DC: A Politics Policy & Blog. OT in DC should be a great way for OTs to stay informed about politics and policies that could affect the provision of occupational therapy services.