morning routine

Materials:

• Foam Board (thick poster board – sturdy like cardboard!)
• Velcro (tape and dots)
• Pictures and/or symbols of activities the child does and places the child goes on a regular basis

1. Cut foam board to the size of 36” length x 4” width. Take the Velcro (fuzzy or female side) and run it the entire length of the foam board on both sides. Attach the pictures for the daily schedule on one side and on the other side have a place to store extra pictures and symbols.

Make your own visual/auditory activity schedule for a child with a visual impairment. Using velcro, place inexpensive single message talkers on a strip of ABS plastic. Then, using velcro, place the object symbol on top of each message talker. In this example, a book, block, computer mouse, and plastic food container represent each activity. The child hits the button to name the activity, they do the activity, you have them help pick it up, then say "all done", they take off the top button and toss it in the bucket. You may have the child choose another button or play the buttons in order.

An eye gaze frame can be made with simple materials obtained at a hardware store. Buy three lengths of plumber’s pipe (PVC pipe) in whatever size you choose and however long you want it to be: 12—18 inches should be about right. Then purchase the equivalent elbow connectors that fit the size of pipe that you bought. Buy or make two blocks of wood about 3” by 5”. Purchase sticky back Velcro strips and cover the pieces of pipe with the fuzzy part of the Velcro. Hot glue two round pipe connectors to the wood base.

An object calendar or symbol shelf can be a useful tool to help a child develop and expand on anticipation and to communicate to others that he understands what is coming next in the daily schedule or next in a favorite activity.

Instructions:
Determine what activities a child enjoys, or if you are using the object calendar for the steps of a favorite activity such as grooming, determine the steps within the specific activity.

If a child is unable to manage the buttons on the front of his or her shirt, and he or she needs the buttoned-opening to open and close, give the child independence and fashion at the same time by sewing small pieces of hook-and-loop material under the button and over the buttonhole. The child can then manage the shirt him/herself, but have buttons like everyone else!

Materials:

• One 24 inch long, 5/8 inch dowel
• One 1-1/4 inch metal cup holder hook
• One plastic-coated hat/coat hook
• 24 inches of pipe insulation with 5/8 inch hole (optional)

Directions:

1. Pre-drill starter holes in each end of dowel.
2. Insert dowel into pipe insulation (optional).
3. Put a dab of glue in one hole of dowel.
4. Twist cup holder into hole, being careful not to split dowel.