Healing Thresholds Autism Therapy Topic Feed

Library Includes Kids With Special Needs in Story Time

scottie — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:58:29 +0000

Teaser:

The Hoboken Public Library now includes kids with autism and other special needs in story time.

Body:

The Hoboken Public Library now includes kids with autism and other special needs in story time. The Wednesday afternoon story time includes great activities along with wonderful stories. Activities include games, puppetry, and sensory activities. The Hoboken Library has been a part of the New Jersey community for a number of years. Along with story time for kids, the library provides resources for children, teens, and adults. Information can be found on the library's home page or on their Facebook page.

Original Article:

Children with Developmental Disabilities, Autism Encouraged to Join in Hoboken Public Library Story Time Fun

Occupational Therapy Includes Sensory Integration Therapy for Students with Autism

scottie — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

An occupational therapist in Brownsville Texas knew that her work with students with autism should include sensory integration therapy.

Body:

An occupational therapist (OT) in Brownsville Texas knew that her work with students with autism should include sensory integration therapy. She said, “Sensory integrated activities were essential in the development of a child. In a school setting, to expect a child to be writing did not make sense if the child wasn’t ready developmentally yet.” As she worked with the children, she had them complete sensory activities that included climbing into a big stretchy body sock to work arms and legs, using tweezers to pick up favorite toys to develop hand-motor control, and tracing words of objects they loved.

Original Article:

Occupational Therapists and Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

The Effect of Sensory Activities on Correct Responding for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

scottie — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:02:30 +0000

Title	The Effect of Sensory Activities on Correct Responding for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Van-Rie GL, Heflin LJ
Journal Title	Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Year of Publication	2009
Volume	3
Issue	3
Pages	783-796
URL for Abstract	http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleListURL&_method=list&_ArticleListID=1006167559&_sort=r&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=c9150f5eb1955933a5bd67deb6045124
Teaser	Sensory-based activities may help some children with autism stay focused on a task.
Full Text	Sensory-based activities may help some children with autism stay focused on a task. Children with autism may have sensory integration problems that make it hard to focus on school work and come up with the right answer. Some therapists use sensory activities that may help children with these problems. For example, children may swing slowly on a swing or bounce quickly on an exercise ball. Usually the children enjoy the sensory activities very much. The researchers wanted to find out if a reward system would motivate children to give correct answers to some questions. Three children (ages 6-7) were offered a choice of sensory activities to do before a session. That activity would then be their reward for answering 12 correct answers. The session started when the therapist asked the child to open their workbook. As their task, children were then asked to identify pictures of community helpers and safety. The children earned a token for every correct answer. They needed to earn 12 tokens in order to get the reward of going on the swing or the exercise ball. The researchers added an interspersal procedure by mixing questions that the child clearly knew the answer to with others that they might need to learn the answer to. The sensory activities as rewards helped two of the three children give correct answers when asked to identify what was in the picture. The interspersal procedure also helped motivate children to give the correct answers.

Occupational Therapist Starts In-Home Autism Intervention Practice

scottie — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:07:41 +0000

Teaser:

Body:

Kristine Quiros, an occupational therapist (OT) in Florida, has set up Theraplay@Home so that children with autism and other developmental disabilities can be in comfortable surroundings for their treatment. She believes that she is the "therapy coach" for parents and other caregivers who spend most of their time with the child. She will "mentor, empower, make therapeutic suggestions, demonstrate techniques, and even provide the therapy when [she is] with the child, yet progress can be significantly more effective when caregivers have incorporated therapy activities into daily routines." She works with children on occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, and sensory integration issues. She feels that inclusion can be best for special needs students, and that no one suffers when a teacher spends time on sensory activities since they're good for all children.

Original Article:

original article

Sensational Stars with Autism

scottie — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:31:02 +0000

Title	Sensational Stars with Autism
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Simmons K, Miller LJ
Journal Title	EP Magazine
Year of Publication	2008
Volume	April
Pages	14-20
URL for Abstract	http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/eparent/access/1465586741.html?dids=1465586741:1465586741:1465586741&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT:PAGE&date=Apr+2008&author=Karen+Simmons%3BLucy+Jane+Miller&pub=The+Exceptional+Parent&edition=&startpage=14&desc=Sensational+Stars+with+Au
Full Text	Sensory integration therapy may help some children with autism. This article describes sensory processing disorder and the sensory integration therapy and occupational therapy that can be used to treat it. Sensory processing happens when the brain takes in messages and converts them into something with meaning that allows for a response. Children who have trouble with sensory processing often also have trouble communicating. Families can be an important part of sensory integration therapy by giving the child the many sensory experiences that create a rich sensory diet. Sensory activities can happen during mealtime, bath time, and bed time.