I was compelled to write this book review. I sent a copy to Amazon. It was declined for publication because I used a  four letter word (actually twice) that was germane to the experience, values  and the art of the author. I share it here instead......This memoir has nothing to do with occupational therapy and everything to do with social justice. However, occupational therapists are trained to heal and help others find the best quality of life after trauma. People who are victimized by injustice experience trauma. The author-a brilliant writer and social commentator was destined to be ..read more

This Flannel board Velcro activity is fun and helps engage the most distractible clients. I wedged the top of a large piece of white fabric into the space between the wall and board. The shapes with Hook Velcro on the back came from various games that were no longer being used and they attached to the fabric. I also happened to have a vibrating cushion with Loop Velcro pieces attached and an outlet below. Now my clients can 1) attach or remove shapes or pictures attached with Velcro 2) press a hand to feel the vibration 3)work on using hands together by holding the containerI love how clien ..read more

Carrying a pack and dragging a towel across the beach can be.... well.. a drag. Here is my simple solution to avoid tripping and lower back pain caused by carrying a heavy load. The lumbar area is your lower back and lack of adequate support may result in lower back pain. A "Lumbar support" may be a cushion pressed between the lower back and back of chair. Some backpacks are ergonomically designed to support that area while walking. This may be especially helpful when carrying a heavy load. Other benefits to using a rolled up towel as lumbar support is 1) you won't trip on the towel 2) you wo ..read more

The swiveling grasping handle to a Push-Up exercise tool is perfect in opening up my client's hand and promoting active movement. She had a brain injury and her right hand has limited active range of motion and motor control. However, this tool seems to compensate for her movement impairment by swiveling as she moves. Her movement is more fluid than when simply grasping a rolled up towel and attempting to touch my finger. I’m sure that I will discover other fun and unique uses of this tool. Let me know if you do, too! https://rumble.com/v7vj96-hand-exercises-for-client-with-spasticit ..read more

I found this thick foam in a storage closet at work and thought --"that would feel nice to use in fine motor activities" I first used it on a table for individuals to insert shakers made out of pill containers. Then I thought of the magnetic pegs and white board in the program room. I tied the foam onto the board and demonstrated how to walk to a table, retrieve a peg and walk to the board for insertion. This is shown in the video...…..This was beneficial because:1) this client loves to walk. 2) this client tends to hunch over so reaching up to place the pegs helped her posture 3) she worked ..read more

FOAM ACTIVITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISBILITIES ..read more

FOAM ACTIVITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISBILITIES ..read more

A non-verbal young lady with developmental disabilities enjoys pressing a switch that activates sensory stimulation. In this case, I connected a massager inside a cushion and fan. She requires a lot of time to process what she wants to do motorically. I can see her thinking about whether to press the switch using the toy in her right hand or directly pressing the switch with her less preferred left hand. She clearly does NOT want to release the toy and involving both hands is the solution! Activating sensory devices like fans, massagers, bubble machines or radios gives the client or student ..read more

I prefer to teach money skills by incorporating them into fine-motor activities. Laminated pictures of coins or paper bills may be sorted into containers or stuffed into envelopes. They can match and attach two pictures using paper clips or squeeze clips.  The money shown in the video has holes punched so that they can be hung on hook boards, strung on cord or used in ring stack tasks. (Make the pictures and holes larger when using on ring stacks) Individuals with developmental disabilities can work on skills such as: 1)         Identifying coins 2)         Naming the value of coins 3 ..read more

I not only love to make therapeutic activities out of recycled materials….. I am also excited to create an entirely new activity out of materials that are broken, in storage or simply not being used anymore. The magnetic building block toy is pretty challenging for most of my clients. The directions are to copy diagrams of shapes created by connecting the pegs and balls. I happened to have some metal washers and a broken Connect 4 frame and turned the materials into a very versatile activity that could be used to develop 1)     Eye-hand coordination to place the pegs inside the Connect 4 f ..read more