community outings

This child had difficulty sitting in a shopping cart due to myoclonic jerks. A swimming pool noodle was cut into sections to cover metal areas of shopping cart. The foam noodle pieces were light weight and easy to carry and protected the child injuring themselves on the shopping trip.

A plastic reclining lounge chair from K-Mart for $9.99 can be used as a bathing chair or chair to play in a baby pool or sandbox. The chair works great, is inexpensive and less cumbersome to carry than a heavy bath chair. The child is supported, and can play with other children while seated. If a belt is needed, there are openings to run a hip belt or shoulder straps already designed in the chair.

A child’s grandmother created a “sleeve” to fit over the child’s wheel chair seat belt, making it safe and harder to undo.

Materials

• One piece of soft flannel material 36" long and 7" wide
• Thread to match material
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine or needle

Directions
Lay material on flat surface with back side facing up.
Using straight pins, pin edges together lengthwise along material.
Using sewing machine or needle, stitch along line lengthwise.

Handing out candy is a great way for children to see all the costumes and excitement of Halloween without the sometimes-overwhelming task of participating. If the child is able, have them hand out the candy. They can have a sign that says “Please take just one” or “Great Costumes”. If switches are available, use them with an appropriate message. Remember, they can do this once or twice, early in the evening when it is a little quieter for the experience.

Trick or Treating is exciting for all children! Here are some ideas to have children participate in the activities. If the child is going out to trick or treat have them practice saying “trick or treat” and “thank you”. If the child is non-verbal have he or she carry a sign saying “trick or treat” and “thank you”; have the sign taped on their candy sack or bag. Voice output switches can be programmed to say “trick or treat” and “thank you”, have the child hit the switch when appropriate. This will enable them to participate more on an active level.

This game was created to help students identify different emotions and match them in the correct categories. A fruit/vegetable platter was used as the wheel of the game. In each section there is a different emotion card depicted using Boardmaker picture symbols. In the center of the wheel is a pile of different emotions from magazines, internet photos, Boardmaker symbols and actual photographs of the students. This game is easy to create, simply print out a variety of emotion pictures.

A mobile communication device can be made by attacking Velcro to any bracelet, belt or shirt tag. The photo or picture symbol can be simply placed on the Velcro and the child can walk with her hands free. This works well for children who are in the beginning stage of picture symbol use and are always on the move!

Family picnics were filled with tantrums until a choice board was added to help the child communicate. The choice board was attached to a wrist bracelet to make it portable. Pictures of foods and activities at the picnic were taught to the child at home. During the picnic, the child was able to indicate his food choices and communicate about the activities.

The communication bib and bolo are simple items that a parent or service provider can wear to display symbols to use with a child to provide increased opportunities for communication.

Materials:

• 18” x 20” piece of Velcro sensitive material for bib
• 2” x 56” (or width of material) piece of Velcro sensitive material for bolo
• Several inches of hook style sticky back Velcro for bib and for backs of pictures, symbols or drawings
• Hot glue gun (in case adhesive on Velcro is not sufficient)

An easy waterproof communication board that can float in the pool, bath, or water table.

Materials:

• Foam garden kneeler (one with a cut out handle works best for the pool)
• Communication Board printed out on card stock
• Laminate or Con-Tact paper (Laminate holds up longer)
• Large baggie with zip lock seals (size needs to fit around the communication board)
• 2 sticky back Velcro strips (both hook and loop) cut to width of garden kneeler

Instructions: