Creative Alternatives to Self-help Devices

Check out this article by Phyllis Ehrlich, MS, OTR/L for inexpensive occupational therapy ideas: Creative Alternatives to Self-help Devices

Barbara Smith, M.S., OTR/L author of, The Recycling Occupational Therapist
RecyclingOT.com

Laundry Clothes Pin Bag

My son inherited the recycling gene and came up with this clothes pin bag after noticing the old one falling apart.


Very clever if I don't say so myself!


Barbara Smith, M.S., OTR/L author of, The Recycling Occupational Therapist
RecyclingOT.com

Recycled Magazine Bowl Art Project

Here is an attractive paper craft using magazines. It is made by folding and wrapping layers. Author, Lila Kall recommends this craft for children in grades 4-8.

Recycled Magazine Bowl Art Project

Barbara Smith, M.S., OTR/L author of, The Recycling Occupational Therapist
RecyclingOT.com

How to Re-use Plastic Containers

Some nice tips on reusing plastic containers:
How to Re-use Plastic containers

Barbara Smith, M.S., OTR/L author of, The Recycling Occupational Therapist
RecyclingOT.com

Clutch Bag KNit out of trash bags

Here is an example of craftsmanship. I am enjoying some simple knitting projects using trash bags, but check out this site for what the pros are making.

Recycled Plastic 'K' Clutch


Barbara Smith, M.S., OTR/L author of, The Recycling Occupational Therapist
RecyclingOT.com

Fish from Recycled Bottle

Check out this project by Jennifer Claerr:

Craft Project: Make a Fish from a Recycled Bottle

I like how this fish is made by cutting this shape out of a dish soap bottle . Read how at BrightHub


Barbara Smith, M.S., OTR/L author of, The Recycling Occupational Therapist
RecyclingOT.com

Balloon Paddles

I just read an interesting article in the AOTA OT Practice written by Kathy R. Broussard about how she made paddles out of coat hangers and nylon that she eventually refined and now markets through the Abilitations catalog at School Specialty products. I couldn't find a contact email for her to ask about use of the photo, but if you have this issue, check out the article Bringing an OT Idea to Market on page 7. Here are a link with paddles made out of paper plates:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf76719103.tip.html
and nylon:
http://home.howstuffworks.com/sports-games-for-kids1.htm

Kathy describes in her article using the paddles she made while working at a Veterans Administration facility. The veterans loved competing while paddling balloons back and forth and this improved upper extremity strength and ROM. The patients with dementia loved it too and this helped improve endurance and muscle tone, postural control, crossing midline, motor planning, eye-hand coordination and social skills.
She further refined the wire and nylon paddle by taping pipe insulation on the handles making them softer and easier on the hands. These are now called PaddleLoons (a combination of a paddle and balloon). If someone has a photo of these-please send them in.
Barbara

Barbara Smith, M.S., OTR/L author of, The Recycling Occupational Therapist
RecyclingOT.com