Building Blocks for Learning Occupational Therapy Approaches

Foreword ix

Acknowledgements xi

Introduction xiii

Online resources xvii

Foundation Skills 1

Introduction to foundation skills 1

FS 1 Introduction to sensory processing 5

FS 1A Vestibular processing (movement and balance sense) 11

FS 1B Tactile sense and tactile processing 15

FS 1C Proprioceptive processing/sense 19

FS 1D Auditory processing 23

FS 1E Visual processing 27

FS 2 Introduction to gross motor coordination 31

FS 2A Motor planning 35

FS 2B Postural stability and balance 39

FS 2C Spatial and body awareness 43

FS 2D Bilateral integration 47

FS 2E Midline crossing and laterality 51

FS 3 Introduction to fine motor control 55

FS 3A Visual motor integration 59

FS 3B Vision and ocular motor control 63

FS 3C Manual dexterity 69

FS 4 Introduction to perception 73

FS 4A Visual discrimination 77

FS 4B Visual spatial relationships 81

FS 4C Visual form constancy 85

FS 4D Visual figure ground discrimination 89

FS 4E Visual closure 93

FS 4F Visual memory 97

FS 5 Introduction to language 101

FS 5A Attention and listening 103

FS 5B Receptive language 105

FS 5C Expressive language 107

FS 5D Auditory memory 109

FS 6 Organisation 111

FS 7 Social and emotional aspects 113

Subject Areas 119

Introduction to subject areas 119

SA 1 General behaviour 122

SA 2 Literacy 126

SA 3 Numeracy 130

SA 4 Science 134

SA 5 Art and Design 138

SA 6 Information Communication Technology 144

SA 7 Physical Education 146

Subject areas teacher observation summary chart 150

Personalised profile for child 151

Medical Conditions 153

Introduction to medical conditions 153

MC 1 Attention deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder 155

MC 2 Autistic spectrum disorders, including Asperger's syndrome 175

MC 3 Cerebral palsy 197

MC 4 Developmental coordination disorder including dyspraxia 221

MC 5 Physical disabilities 243

Occupational Therapy Approaches 247

Introduction to occupational therapy approaches 247

OTA 1 Building firm foundations for spatial and body awareness 249

OTA 2 Building firm foundations for left/right awareness 253

General activities 253

Activities to help with left/right discrimination on oneself 254

Activities to help with left/right orientation on others 255

Activities to help with left/right discrimination of objects 255

Activities to help with left/right orientation and tracking when writing 256

OTA 3 Building firm foundations for fine motor control 259

Warm up for the upper limb 259

Handwriting warm up 261

Hand gym 263

Ideas for using therapeutic putty 265

Pencil aerobics 267

Doodle games 268

Hand/finger relaxation strategies 269

OTA 4 Building firm foundations for handwriting 271

Handwriting 271

Development of pencil grasp 273

Efficient and inefficient grasps 274

Improving pencil grasp 276

Three easy stages for teaching pencil grip 277

Equipment to help develop pencil grasp and fluency 278

Commercially available equipment 279

Hand development for handwriting 280

Ergonomics 281

Table surface 282

Texture of writing paper or surface 283

Paper position 284

Position in class 284

Development of pencil skills 285

Pre-writing skills, based around using your senses 286

Multi-sensory handwriting approach 288

Establishing correct pressure 292

Consolidation for efficient handwriting 293

Rules for writing tasks 294

Activities to encourage self-evaluation of handwriting 296

Copying from the board 297

Specific advice for left-handed children 298

OTA 5 Building firm foundations for alternative methods of recording 305

Complexity of handwriting 305

Low-tech alternatives 306

Interactive whiteboards 306

Digital cameras 307

Word processing as an alternative 308

ICT resources 310

Suggested equipment 310

Software 310

Adaptations/strategies to try 311

Further resources 312

OTA 6 Building firm foundations for dressing skills 315

OTA 7 Building firm foundations for scissor development 319

The 14 steps in scissor skill development 319

Activities to develop pre-scissor skills 320

Activities to help with scissor skills 320

Equipment to help with scissor control 321

OTA 8 Sensory strategies 323

OTA 9 Self-organisation approaches 327

OTA 10 Consolidating foundation skills through group activities 333

Establishing groups 334

Non-themed activity groups 336

Themed activity groups 336

OTA 10A Gross motor activities for pirate groups 340

OTA 10B Fine motor activities for pirate groups 344

OTA 11 Consolidating foundation skills for transition from primary to secondary school 349

Appendices 359

A 1 Ages and stages of development 361

A 2 Alphabet ABC sentences 369

A 3 Fine motor circuit score sheet 371

A 4 Handwriting self-evaluation checklist 373

A 5 Handwriting programmes and fine motor resources 375

A 6 Information communication technology checklist 379

A 7 Movement programmes and gross motor resources 381

A 8 Individual child profile 387

A 9 Resources for developing social, emotional and behavioural skills 389

A 10 Teachers' checklist for visual signs 395

A 11 Thinking skills 397

A 12 Twelve rules of legibility 401

A 13 Visual perception resources 403

A 14 Work system 405

Equipment Resources 407

Suppliers' Addresses 413

Useful Addresses 417

Further Reading 421

Glossary 423

Index 427