Client Shaking sensory stimulation objects on Ipad holder attached to Tray

I was given a gooseneck Ipad holder that attaches to a tray with a C-clamp. I wanted to use it to help a client be able to shake objects that she has difficulty controlling when they are lower on her tray. I covered all of the parts that hold the Ipad with fabric, duct tape, tubing  so that there were no sharp edges. then I added yam and other pretty dangly things. but best of all was attaching the Brainy Baby Toy that her sister had purchased for her. It has a spring inside that vibrates when pulled and no batteries which is great... I know that this lady loves vibration and to pull objects and this was much easier to do when the pulling was from up above rather than across her tray. Also she has difficulty grasping for longer periods of time so I attached the  http://eazyhold.com/   strap to keep her hand inside. She is able to pull her hand out at any point and she did after about 10 minutes. So I alternated between using her right and left hand with the strap and time to touch without using the strap.  You can see in the video how excited she is the be able to pull for more than her usual few seconds....

 

 

 

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013TSXSI?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B0013TSXSI&linkCode=xm2&tag=barbarasmitho-20

Roller Ring Stack

This is an easy way to make a sensory-based fine motor activity. Many of my clients love the sensation of rubbing their hands over the roller as well as the deep pressure sensory input when I roll it over thei9r hands. I attached a roller from the dollar store inside a plastic tube and wedged the tube inside a detergent bottle. I  made the rectangular pieces a bit small so that they have to motor plan to tilt each one before inserting over the roller. the young man in the video enjoys giving it some rolls while  performing repetitions.





Source: Paint Roller Ring Stack for Children with Autism by RecyclingOT on Rumble

Deep Pressure Beeping Bilateral Ring Stack

I had made this ring stack a while ago to promote reaching and using 2 hands. My clients really enjoy looking at the photos attached to the plastic. I had laminated the photos and some clients sewed them to the plastic that I had cut from large detergent bottles. But you can glue pictures to plastic or cardboard to use for stacking. There are may ways to make this. I inserted the 2 tall dowels into a large bottle and then inserted that inside the box and covered it with contact paper to look nicer.

 I attached a beeping toy by wrapping it up in fabric and then tying the fabric to the dowels. When they press down with force, they can hear the sounds.

This was a lot of fun . You can grade the difficulty level by making the holes in the plastic pieces larger or smaller.

Source: Bilateral Ring Stack for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities by RecyclingOT

Adding Motor Planning Challenge to Ring Stacks

My clients get bored with doing the same activities, so I try to make small variations to keep their interest. This ring stack has a couple of balls attached to the top. I can shake the pole to draw their attention to the top of the pole where the ring needs to go down. I cut the openings in the plastic to be small enough to require a bit of motor planning to make the balls fit through. I found that this worked well with some individuals while seated and others while standing at the table promoting reaching at eye level.

 

 

 

Two Shape Bilateral Ring Stack

My clients seems to really enjoy this ring stack.  I happened to have a cardboard tube, some plastic dowels and these rectangular shaped plastic containers. So I wedged 2 dowels into the tube and then attached the rectangular container.

 I knew that they would have to stabilize this because it rocks around otherwise. But they seemed to like the cognitive challenge of matching the small round shapes to the dowel and rectangular shapes to the rectangular stack. They realized quickly that the smaller round shapes won't  fit over the rectangular stack and understood where the larger green rectangular shapes needed to go.   In addition, the lady with the striped sweater avoids using her left hand so this activity worked on her goal to stabilize with it.

 

This activity works on many skills that are appropriate for individuals with  developmental disabilities.   

Munch Ball Insertion Activity

 



My client enjoyed the sensory input from squeezing the ball to insert the links. I really like how she has to stop to unclip them as she works turning this into a multi-step task that works on strengthening her pincer grasp..... 



http://therapyfunzone.net/blog/new-vinyl-munchy-ball-fine-motor/

Dining Cup Holder



An individual I work with drops her drink bottle on the table and floor. I want her to learn to place it on the platform.

The platform helps her to sit more upright while eating. 

I cut into the white Thicket container ( I have several of these ) so that it can slide onto the edge of the platform. It was at first bit too tall for the cup and she couldn't get it out, so I cut around the top of the container to remove some of the plastic and then wedged the pieces together and taped  in place. Notice how it got shorter.....

  I think that she will learn how to place the cup in the holder if we guide her hand, praise when she succeeds and give her more food after she puts her cup in place.
 I have been playing around with figuring out which corner of the platform to position this to. It stays in place pretty well. So far the lower right corner is working best.