Interior Design for Autism from Childhood to Adolescence by A. J. Paron-Wildes

Author:A. J. Paron-Wildes
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781118680384
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2013-10-20T16:00:00+00:00

Typically when a therapist or parent is working with the child, they are sitting time at a table. You want the child to be focused on the work or his or her tutor. There may be some occupational therapy, meaning jumping, swinging, or rolling on the floor, and there may be circle or floor time singing songs, moving their body, and dancing. An optimal therapy space would provide a great place for all these activities to happen.

A mirror can again be helpful when the child is learning facial expressions and emotions or dancing. Swings, trampolines, or other small equipment are used frequently and create a needed break activities in between learning. Research has shown that kinetic activity between learning modes increases attention span and brain function (Thomas, Jerry; Nelson, Jack; and Silverman, Stephen. Research Methods in Physical Activity. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 2011). In fact, there are many neurotypical individuals that claim they think better while jumping on a trampoline.

Jumping Jonah

Jonah was in an intensive ABA program at home and received 40 hours of intensive ABA therapy. In his room he had a doorway swing, a small trampoline, a tumbling mat, a weighted blanket, and a bean bag. There were two separate work areas, one a round table and the other a square table. Both were child sized and allowed for adults to sit there.

All of the toys and therapy materials were locked away in a closet and a cabinet. Jonah had a schedule on a wall and some pictures of toys or other rewards he could choose from every day. Jonah would spend 15 minutes attending to the therapist for a teaching moment, then when his attention waned, his therapist would put him on his swing or trampoline, and they would sing a song. When it was time for Jonah to sit back down and do another activity, his therapist noticed he was ready to work again.

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