Day 4 Sensory Processing

Feeling more on track after checking in as a group. I now have a group and a topic. Now it is time to get to work and become familiar with Special Olympics Motor Activities Training Program (MAPT).

Muti-sensory environments

Video of Stockton Elem School's (Chicago) Snoezelan  room. I didn't realize it was a made up name I had always thought it was the name of the concepts creator. I can't wait for my students to experience Acadia's Snoezelan room. I feel blessed that my program have priority for access to the room. The room will definitely be a gift to all the students in our community that are fortunate enough to experience this unique environment that allows self discovery. Thank you Roxanne for all the effort and energy you continue to put in to this project to open doors for so many students.

It is beneficial to hear the theoretical side of movement from an APE perspective. Now I need time to think of my students and apply the information below. After applying this to my students I will discuss my thoughts with the occupational therapists when they consult. With more carefully planned activities  I may be able nudge my students along in their sensory development.

SNOEZELAN ROOMS

Below I have highlighted the slides from the PowerPoint that I feel are most applicable for assessing the present sensory programming for my students. Now I just need time to find a quiet place to relate this theoretical info to my current practice. Very busy times with 2 courses in 10 days!

The following are excerpts are from the class PowerPoint(shared with Roxanne's consent)

What is Snoezelan?

“…a sensitive, caring, non-directive approach in which the atmosphere of safety and security is encouraged. The enabler and participant will share a common, positive emotional experience during the activity. There is no formal focus upon therapeutic outcome – rather the focus is to assist users to gain maximum pleasure from the activity that they and the enabler are involved in.”

What is the Snoezelan Philosophy?

An environment controlled by the participant

—The opportunity for the participant to make choices

—A safe, comfortable atmosphere

—An air of enjoyment and well-being

—An improved relationship between participant and care giver

—Freedom from the pressure to perform and achieve

—Less obvious emphasis on goals and outcomes

—An enhancement to quality of life

—A new approach to care giving

—A beneficial aid to teaching

—A creative approach to therapeutic gain

Snoezelan rooms include,

—Interesting lighting effects

—Variety of sounds

—Intriguing aromas

—Tactile experiences

—Vibrosonic sensations

—Massage and vibration

—Gentle movement

—Choice of activity

—Opportunities for interaction and engagement

Basic Neurological Building Blocks

- Sensory Systems - "Sensory integration the is org of sensation for use. Our senses give us info about the physical conditions of our body and the environment around us. Sensations flow into the brain like streams flowing into a lake." Jean Ayres

1. Register sensation

2. Orient to it

3. Use past and current info to interpret it

4. Execution, what you do about it

Includes, 

- vestibular

- proprioception

- tactile

- visual

- olfactory

- gustatory

- taste

VESTIBULAR AND PROPRICEPTION SYSTEMS 

integrate to support posture, balance, muscle tone, gravitational security.

Tactile and visual integrate for nutritional and emotional development for sucking, eating, mother-infant bonding and tactile comfort.

Examples of core exercises to help with primitive reflexes,

Tonic Labyrinthe Reflexes

Supine reflex

1. Side bends to pick something up off a chair beside the student

2. Toss ball back and forth while sitting on an exercise ball

3.  Pat balloons while leaning on a pie mat

4. Simon Says "be a bug", "stretch like a cat"

5. Bicycle while on bike on floor

6. Dances

7. Row Row Row Your Boat

Positive Support Reflex (don't bend knees while landing from a jump"

1. Role play jumping in slow motion - task analysis it

2. Bend down and pick up bean bags and put them in a bucket by bending their knees

3. Head and Shoulders Knees and Toes

4. Walk on bubble wrap

5. Jump on bubbles wrap

Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex(difficulty crossing the midline)

1. Hokey pokey

2. Toss ball to left or right

3. Rhythmic gymnastics ribbons to left or right

4. Catching a large light weight ball in the centre line

5. Macarena dance

6. Toss bean bags to play a large tic tack toe on the floor

7. Using a plasma car

Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex

1. yoga cat and dog pose

2. Dance Dance Revolution

VESTIBULAR SYSTEM

- balance, body in space

Observe for challenges in these areas, 

- walk heel to toe

- delays in hopping and skipping

- balancing on 1 foot

- inefficient walking and running

- walking on balance beam

Helpful items for vestibular

- swing

- hammock

- bouncy ball

- scooter

- outdoor swing

- scooter board

- side to side movement

- hoopla hooping 

- plasma car

VISUAL SYSEM

Observe for,

- squinting 

- rubbing eyes

- redness of eyes

KINESTHETIC SYSTEM 

- move body part on demand

- awkwardness

- touch your finger to your nose

TACTILE SYSTEM

Observe for,

- dislike or resistance to being touched

PERCEPTUAL MOTOR PROCESSES

- moving laterally, body in space, crosses the midline

Observe for,

- never crawled

- avoid going up slide ladder, left to right movement

BODY IMAGE 

- self esteem, knowing and loving who you are

- develops from all sensory input system info as well as from experiences from the body