Child and Parent Occupational Wellness

Occupational Therapy in the School Enviroment

Here is a great little video about occupational therapy within the school environment with young children.  Take a look!!!

DbD Toys: Development by Design- Great Toys for Every Child on Your List!

DbD Toys, a company created by Jessica Zarin Kessin (founder & president, professional product designer) and Julie Robbins, OTR/L is a great new company with a focus on developing toys for children of all abilities, special needs included.  They have a great website that explains developmental occupational skills such as gross motor, fine motor, bilateral coordination, motor planning, sensory processing, visual perception, social and pre-academic skills, eye-hand coordination, and oral-motor skills.  For a quick link to explanations of these skills, click on Developmental Skills.

Julie Robbins, the occupational therapist, has authored a series of articles & game ideas available on the website that cover topics in the aforementioned skills areas and how to incorporate activities into the lives of your children to promote good development of the skills.  She also is directly involved with the design, testing, and evaluation of all DbD toys & products.  She has worked extensively with the special needs population and is able to apply her knowledge of this for toy development.

Check out the website at www.dbdtoys.com, where you can sign up for their free newsletter which includes new toys, articles, and information for parents and teachers.  There is something for every child on this site!

Hey Parents, do you have questions about school-based occupational therapy services?

The month of September is nearing its end and most students are getting settled into their new classrooms and schedules for the year.  Many parents who may be concerned about their child's abilities in the classroom tend to have questions about what kinds of services are available in school to help their child succeed in school and maximize their potential.   The following article from the American Occupational Therapy Association  written by Ashley Opp Hoffman addresses some of these concerns.  For more information about school based occupational therapy services, parent tips for helping your child succeed in school, and tips on fine motor development and handwriting, visit www.aota.org.

 

What Parents Need to Know

About School-Based Occupational

Therapy

Ashley Opp Hofmann

When a school informs parents that it recommends occupational therapy for their child, parents tend to have a lot of questions. Their first question?

What is occupational therapy?

Occupational therapy is a health profession in which therapists and therapy assistants help individuals to do and engage in the specific activities that make up daily life. For children and youth in schools, occupational therapy works to ensure that a student can participate in the full breadth of school activities—from paying attention in class; concentrating on the task at hand; holding a pencil, musical instrument, or book in the easiest way; or just behaving appropriately in class.

Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants help students perform particular tasks necessary for participation or learning. “The whole purpose of school-based occupational therapy is to help kids succeed,” says pediatric occupational therapist Leslie Jackson. Occupational therapy practitioners don’t just focus on the specific problem that a child’s disability may present; rather, they look at the whole child and tackle individual tasks, helping students find ways to do the things they need and want to do.

Usually, occupational therapy is provided to students with disabilities. But occupational therapy can be made available to other children who are having specific problems in school. Occupational therapy practitioners also work to provide consultation to teachers about how classroom design affects attention, why particular children behave inappropriately at certain times, and where best to seat a child based on his or her learning style or other needs. Occupational therapy may be recommended for an individual student for reasons that might be affecting his or learning or behavior, such as motor skills, cognitive processing, visual or perceptual problems, mental health concerns, difficulties staying on task, disorganization, or inappropriate sensory responses.

A common manifestation of difficulties in school involves handwriting, in many cases because this is a key “occupation” that students must master to succeed in school. A teacher might notice that a student cannot write legibly or has serious problems in other motor tasks. The occupational therapy practitioner can work with the teacher to evaluate the child to identify the underlying problems that may be contributing to handwriting difficulty. The occupational therapy practitioner looks at the child’s skills and other problems (including behavior), in addition to his or her visual, sensory, and physical capabilities. They also take into account the school, home, and classroom environments to find ways to improve the handwriting or to identify ways the child can compensate, such as using a computer.

Accessing school-based occupational therapy is fairly straightforward, but it is the school team who makes the decision of whether or not a student requires occupational therapy. Not every student needs occupational therapy, even if the student has a disability. Those who do may have problems that the teacher can address after consulting with an occupational therapy practitioner and modifying their teaching technique or the environment for the entire class.

The education team could recommend one-on-one services. Usually these services are integrated as much as possible into the child’s routine to promote better integration of skills.

Students with disabilities have been able to receive occupational therapy at school since the 1975 passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which served as the original impetus for school-based occupational therapy. The law stipulates that students with disabilities must have access to the occupational therapy if they need it to benefit from special education. In 2001, Congress passed the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act which requires schools to improve the academic achievement of all students, including those with disabilities. In 2004, the reauthorization of IDEA extended the availability of occupational therapy services to all students, not just those with disabilities, in order to fully participate in school.

Parents, though, have a lot of the responsibility when it comes to their child’s success in school, and their involvement becomes doubly important when an occupational therapy practitioner enters the picture. First, Jackson suggests getting to know the teachers and occupational therapist.

“Share information about what your child does at home, raise whatever concerns you have, find out what sorts of things you can do with your child to help him or her succeed,” she says.

“Occupational therapy practitioners have important knowledge and expertise to share. Take advantage of it.”

DOG-GONE Therapy!!! How Therapy is "Going to the Dogs"

There is much to be said about the human-animal bond, especially for children.  As the daughter of a veterinarian, I grew up with all kinds of pets.  We had dogs, hamsters, rabbits, birds, and fish.  Though I loved them all, I cannot say enough about the wonderful experience of growing up with my rabbits and dogs.  Most people who know me personally have probably heard at least one story about my beloved rabbit, "Cocoa", who came to his cage door when you knocked, who chased a ball, hung out with my dog, and learned to swim in my pool -- yes, you read correctly -- a swimming rabbit.

If people I know haven't heard about Cocoa, they have certainly heard about Raja and Ginger (pictured below), my parents' adorable mother-daughter combo of yellow labrador retrievers with whom I had the great pleasure of spending my adolescent and college years.

            

Companion animals provide many things to their human counterparts.  I can speak first hand about the security, unconditional love, socialization, and friendship that my pets provided me with (not to mention the nurturing skills and empathy that comes along with the responsibility of caring for another living creature).  These are but some of the qualities that make animals (especially dogs) such appealing partners in therapy. 

Therapy dogs are currently practicing alongside their occupational therapist owners/handlers in a variety of ways.  Dogs take part in therapy sessions to increase motivation in the child while the OT directs the treatment process to help the child reach his/her therapeutic goals. 

Some examples of this include:

• Improving gross motor skills such as bilateral upper extremity use, balance, and body awareness (possibly by having the child pet, brush, and do an activity with the dog, among other ways).
• Improving fine motor skills by having the child place objects/treats on the dog's vest, manipulate buckles on the dog's collar, utilizing a leash.
• Sensory integration skills/sensory stimulation - tactile awareness through petting the soft fur of the dog, regulating muscle control/force of upper extremities through touch.
• Visual perception- identifying colors/patterns on dog, categorizing, etc.
• Socialization/Sequencing- by talking to the dog and giving commands, children learn to communicate.  They can learn sequencing skills by following certain directions from the therapist to complete a "task" with the dog.

Dogs are unconditionally loving.  They are non-judgemental and they are social.  These qualities are appealing to children and often times can motivate a child more than a human could.  Children who are typically shy or withdrawn may come out of their "shell" in the presence of a therapy dog and take part more fully in the therapy session.  They can form an emotional attachment and friendship with the dog, which ensures increased motivation for future treatment sessions.

Therapy dogs are currently taking part in programs with children to improve sensory integration, increase social skills, improve literacy and handwriting, improve gross and fine motor skills, and more.  Dogs are specially trained to work with certain populations in a therapeutic environment.  The treatment sessions are directed by the therapist/dog handler.  Check out this report about animal assisted therapy at Columbus Children's Hospital in Ohio:

If this topic is of interest to you as a parent or professional, I strongly recommend checking out the following link, which is a current weblog by an OT in Texas about her practice with her therapy dog and children.  It is a first-hand glimpse into the world of occupational therapy and how a dog is incorporated into sessions to elicit all kinds of responses from children in order to help them maximize their functioning.  The site includes pictures and videos of therapy sessions in action: 

                      Jumpstart Therapies Animal Assisted Therapy Program

Also, the following link is to an article about a literacy program that originated in the western United States and uses therapy dogs: Kids + Dogs = Combination for Paw-rrific Reading Adventures.

For more specific information on animal-assisted therapy (AAT) and the training of therapy dogs and their handlers, click on:

The Delta Society - Improving Human Health Through Service and Therapy Animals.

Lastly, refer to the sidebar of this site under "Animal Assisted Therapy/Therapy Dogs" for future updates on information and articles on this subject.

I welcome any personal stories & anecdotes regarding therapeutic experiences with therapy dogs and/or other animals.  Please share!

Running for a Cause: Breast Cancer- Past, Present, & Future

Exactly one month from today, a very close friend and I will be traveling to Rome, Italy to join thousands of people in running the Komen Italia Race for the Cure.  We will run in memory of her mother, who passed away from breast cancer.  We will run in honor of all women today dealing with breast cancer.  And we will run for ourselves, our daughters, for all women,  and for the future of breast cancer detection, treatments, and hopefully someday, a cure.                                                

Breast cancer is an issue that all women (and a small percentage of men) must be aware of in terms of early detection and appropriate treatments.  Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the leading source of funding, information, and support for breast cancer and I am proud to support it and take part in one of their events around the world.

Women who survive breast cancer can be faced with a number of challenges during and after treatment.  Depending on if they have surgery and what types of surgery (lumpectomy, mastectomy, breast reconstruction) they have, women should be aware that treatment options do exist afterwards in terms of rehabilitation.  There are occupational therapists who run breast cancer survivor rehabilitation programs and specialize in this area.  Focusing on the experience of the survivor, her occupations in life, and physical recovery, occupational therapists can have a real impact.  The following links provide more information on the subject of breast cancer recovery and rehabilitation.  Women and families should know that after a surgery and treatment, there are options out there to help you fully recover physically, mentally, and spiritually.  For further information on this subject, click here:

Helpful Hints for Breast Cancer Survivors - An Occupational Therapist's Perspective

Rehabilitation for Breast Cancer Survivors

Breastcancer.org: Medical Information About Breast Cancer

With all of the advances that have been made in science and medicine to date, early detection and treatment of breast cancer has made big differences in peoples' lives.  It is important that we continue to support this cause so that more advances can be made so that someday, we may find the cure.  To make a donation for breast cancer research to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, click here: Susan G. Komen for the Cure: Donations

And stay tuned for a review of the Komen Italia Race for the Cure 2008 in May!

"You're an occupational therapist? That's great! And what, exactly, is it that you do?"

This is frequently the reaction I get from people after they find out what my profession is.  As I explain to them, we tend to get into exciting conversation about "what I do for work", and people are genuinely interested and zealous for more information.  Therefore, I am posting this today not only to promote the world of occupational therapy, but also to convey how much I enjoy working as an OT.  Although it is a challenging career, it offers limitless personal rewards knowing that I played a part, for example, each time I see a parent's joy when their physically disabled baby reaches a critical developmental milestone, or when a traumatically brain injured young adult is able to dress herself independently for the first time since before her accident, or when a stroke victim is able to sit and balance in a chair independently to eat a meal.  These are the types of things that OT's help people of all ages do everyday.  We focus on goals that are personally meaningful to each person in the scope of their life, and we do our best to help them become as independent as possible in the daily occupations that make them who they are.

                                          

In the United States, April is designated nationally as OT Month by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).  This month is when the AOTA National Conference takes place (this year in Long Beach, CA) and also a chance for us to promote our profession and describe the benefits that OT provides to all kinds of people each day.  Occupational therapists work with all different clients, from babies to teenagers, to older adults.  Some OT's work in acute care hospitals and rehabilitation hospitals (both physical and psychiatric) while others work in schools, early intervention (babies age 0-3), or private practice.  There are also OT's who specialize in certain areas of expertise such as pediatrics, hand therapy, and neurorehabilitation.  No matter what type of client an OT may have, the end goal is always to promote maximum independence in that client's life. 

Some examples of this include:

• a child attending school who has a neurological disorder may have weak trunk muscle control which affects his/her movement and fine motor skills, in turn affecting his or her ability to perform occupations in school such as sitting upright at a desk and handwriting.  An OT would work with that child to increase muscle control and strength, help with positioning for optimum movement, work on fine motor skills such as pencil grasp and finger control, among other things, depending on the child's educational goals.
• An elderly person who suffers a stroke and loses all motor control of his/her left arm may work with an OT to learn adaptations for skills such as dressing, feeding, and bathing to promote independence, all while also working on strengthening and regaining muscular control of the affected arm.
• A person who is admitted to the psychiatric ward suffering from a dual diagnosis (addiction and mental disorder) will work with an OT on skills such as time management, social skills, personal care, and stress management to help them cope with their illness while trying to break their substance addiction or abuse.

In order to highlight the occupational therapy profession more specifically, I am including a link to an excellent article that was published this past January in the New York Times.  It features occupational therapist Jodi Levin, an OT at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange, New Jersey who works daily with traumatic brain injury clients.  It is a wonderful glimpse into the world of an occupational therapist in the rehabilitation setting and explains exactly what it is that us OT's do for our clients and their families.  To read, click here:

In the Trenches: The Occupational Therapist, Coaching the Comeback

Back To School is Upon Us!

It is the last week of August and all of us parents are busy preparing our children to begin the 2007-2008 school year next week.  In the United States during the month of September, occupational therapists across the country work in conjunction with schools, communities, and families to hold Backpack Safety Awareness Day.  I am including in this post a link about research that has been done on students who use backpacks.  There have been a lot of findings regarding posture, spinal growth, chronic back pain, poor body mechanics, and repetitive stress injuries related to the improper wearing and carrying of a school backpack.  These problems can easily be prevented by knowing how to properly use a backpack.  To read the findings, click on Backpack Research.

In the sidebar under "Student Backpack Safety Awareness" is a nice list of files produced by AOTA about backpack safety.  It includes tips on how to properly pack and wear a backpack, as well as how much weight each student should carry depending on his or her own body weight.  There are also health and success tips for students and backpack information for schools.  I encourage you to check out the lists and print them out so that you can get your child started off on the right foot!

A New Blog About OT, Parenthood, Child Development, and All Things Related

Welcome!  Thank you for visiting Child and Parent Occupational Wellness.  This site serves to be a resource and discussion area for parents, families, and professionals who are interested in topics related to overall family health and wellness and more specifically parent-child occupations.  As an occupational therapist who works with children and families, I hope to be able to supply helpful information for parents and children of all abilities. My aim is for this blog to be both personal and professional by bringing forth some of my own observations and experiences in my daily life as a woman engaged in the "occupation" of motherhood, as well as providing information on different topics related to family life, parenthood and child development.  I look forward to your feedback as the site develops!