It's all what you make it

The activities I participated in where innovative name game activities. The name game activities consisted of crosswords, spelling out names from physical body contortion, creative same-celebrity name, and lastly, our group that used drawings our specific interests and activities to spell out our names. We then switched gears and our attention was captured by this never-ending bin of random items. Inside of it were
common/everyday items and we were given at least 4 per group. We were then instructed to create an activity that included that involved 3 of the 4: physical, social, emotional and cognitive goals. Most everyone created some form of relay race that utilized the unconventional/uncommon items and turned them into various activities. My group, had cups, little straw hats, and a funnel with string. Along with the rest of the groups, we created a relay where we had to balance the hat on your head, flip the hat into the funnel, and stack the cups with a partner all while only using only your non-dominant hand.

Professionally, I learned that in the agency that I may be working for may have limited resources. The activity where given a few common items reinforced the idea that sometimes you have to be CREATIVE and USE what you have. Sometimes that means looking at common things a different way. Maybe not what it is, but what it CAN BE and can be made into.

Personally, I learned that love creative freedom. I love the challenge of stepping outside the box. It's where I work best and find some of my best work.

This was seen directly with the name game activity. Lewis gave us an open ended idea to create an activity to introduce and learn names in a group setting. Immediately, I came up with the idea to draw our names out of interests and activities we like to do. My inspiration came from a hawaiian picture I saw with the letters of someones name spelled out similarly and thought it might be a good idea to have a functional VISUAL memory attatched to the person who is introducing themselves to aid in name remembrance and recollection. I strove for excellence when I had an idea and suggested it to the group. In the short amount of time given, it's important that people not be afraid of their ideas when brainstorming. If no one speaks up, nothing will be accomplished.

There's no cure like CRAFTS & CANDY

The day had been long, until I walked into the classroom. I saw all the magazines and cardboard laid out and dove right in! We were told to create journals and use our creative freedom of utilizing anything that was in front of us. Once we were prompted to finish up, we were divided and directed to different craft/activity stations. Our first station was creating a mirage with different paints and equipment/materials to do so! Next, was an activity station where we drew pictures on each others backs and tried to recreate them. We then created crazy faces and pictures by only adding one thing between each switch around the table. By the end, the people and pictures were ridiculous! The next station was creating a bracelet! I thoroughly enjoyed this station and got to go home with a new accessory! Last but NOT LEAST was creating candy houses :)) To say I indulged in this activity would be an understatement!

Throughout the activities we were told to think as a CTRS might. With this mindset I was able to get my gears turning for different populations and settings that each of these activities could be utilized with. I really liked the idea of the modgepodge art. It could be utilized to create functional journals as well as scrapbooking. This would help them express important people in their life or their interests.

By the end of the session, I learned that how much I personally get from crafting. It is a much needed outlet of my creativity and self expression. Like I said, it was kind of a crazy week/day and I felt 100% refreshed after crafting. I also learned that I have no self control when it comes to candy :) but... let's be real, i've known that for awhile.

To "strive for excellence," I really found myself putting all my effort into each activity. With the journals, I chose pictures and colors that seemed personal to me. When we were group painting, I felt that I stepped outside the box and used some techniques that may have been a little different, such as sucking up paint and blowing it out the straws. I believe that's why I ended up getting so much out of the day, because I really put my whole self into it.

Let's just say, I got pretty into all the activities.. I didn't want them to end!

Tales around the Class-Campfire

All while sitting around a cleverly built/homemade campfire, I listened to a representative from the North American Squirrel Association. He talked about the organization, adaptive equipment and showed us very interesting relevant videos on adaptive hunting, fishing and boating. As a divided class, we watched videos and a presentation on adaptive sports and adaptive equipment. Lastly, I was the TRS in a timed tent building activity with various disabilities represented.

After watching a person with visual impairments hunt, a person in a wheelchair do a back flip, and young adults with spinal cord injuries repelling and bungee jumping, I'd like to think that I'd take with me the idea that "anything is possible." With a little creativity the possibilities are endless. All it takes is a shift to a positive perspective and barriers become become challenges. Let's be real, who doesn't love a good challenge?

What I learned about myself was that I am very interested in adaptive sports. Coincidentally, the night before this presentation I was perusing an inclusive camp for spinal cord injuries. I got lost in videos of adaptive bungee jumping, four wheeling, kayaking and zip lining. It was so relevant to the presentation of adaptive equipment and outdoor connection that I ended up sharing them with the group.

To strive for excellence, I reflect on my performance as a TRS facilitating putting up a tent with a group of various disabilities. I took upon a role that would help the participants gain experience. I strove to include everyone. My efforts showed when processing my participant who is visually impaired commented on her tent building experience when she said she felt supported and guided.

Overall, I learned that "Neature is pretty NEAT!" :)

the invisible, expanding keyboard in space

SOUNDBEAMS in Special Education and Music Therapy

I got this article from,

Swingler, T. (2006). Soundbeam in special education and music therapy. Retrieved from http://www.soundbeam.co.uk/downloads/leaflets/special-needs-leaflet.pdf

When and how you located the article:

I may or may not have come across this article while researching for another project of mine :) However, I believe this is one of the COOLEST pieces of adaptive equipment I have every seen. Therefore, I will share it with you.

Two paragraph synopsis of what you learned in this article:

I learned that Soundbeams offers an opportunity to people with profoundly physically disabled or learning impaired individuals to become expressive and communicative using music and sound. It can be done through the Soundbeams technology where movements are recognized and translated into sound. The sensitivity of the beams allows for the individuals to 'play' independently. The electronic technology makes available a huge range of possible sound-worlds. When compared to the traditional limitations of percussion based activity. The technology can be set up to recognize a specific range of space that allows for individuals to interact and take more chances, and to explore more and more the environment around them.

Although, this product can be used on any individual, of any age. It would increase functional

skills, socially by decreasing deviations from activities, increasing level of positive participation, and social interaction. Cognitively, it would help improve the cause and effect understanding, and increase attention span. Emotionally, it has the ability to improve an individual's ability to express/communicate feelings and overall happiness with their surroundings. Physically, it can improve body awareness and strength in upper extremities. The benefits are endless to enable and empower children with a range of disabilities.

How will you apply this knowledge to your professional development?

This new technology has the ability to captivate anyone with its ingenuity. It can be set to detect the slightest movements to the most dramatic movements. It can realistically reach any population and therefore, promotes inclusion! Through my professional perspective, I can specifically envision it being used for Occupational Therapy. It promotes purposeful physical activity but literally requires no physical talent.

Would you recommend this article for other TR students?

I would most definitely recommend this article to other students because it gets the brain firing. It opens up a whole new can of ideas of opportunities and possibilities. Any piece of research that has that capability must be shared. I assume that this a piece of equipment that most haven't seen or used and I hope that if they ever have the chance.. they could write potentially write a grant proposal and utilize it for its endless possibilities.

Just Keep Swinging

This week as a group we all ventured out to Forest Hills Golf Course where a representative from Sister Kenny gave us a presentation on Adaptive Golf. I had never experienced adaptive golf before but am definitely interested in adaptive sports. We learned about the different types of adaptive equipment and even tested them out.

For the future, if I were to ever suggest or recommend an adaptive activity, I would like to have tried it first. Getting the first-hand experience taught me what barriers that a person with disabilities may encounter. For example, when golfing from the seated position, the knees of the golfer tend to get in the way. I could avoid this situation and potential aggravation with the knowledge that I acquired by turning/angling the chair. Experience will help me be more qualified and confident to suggest or aide in activity facilitation.

I learned that I actually really enjoy golfing :)) we got to hit a club without adaptive equipment to see how we'd do. Granted I didn't do the greatest... but it's an activity that I would GLADLY try again to try and improve.

To strive for excellence, I kept an open mind and was very excited to try the different adaptive techniques. This activity required that you not be afraid to jump in and spare you're humiliation. I kept a positive attitude and tried to be encouraging to others as they tried the techniques. In the end, we were all on an "even playing field" because we were all out of our comfort zones and felt silly when attempting to hit the ball! Overall, because I participated and engaged.. it was a great experience! Thank you for allowing us the opportunity!

Cafe252 Craziness

I was in charge of coordinating this weeks activity experience of adaptive dining. As a group we played off of the idea of making a "dining experience." Included in the experience were three tables with 6 chairs. Each filled with a person with a disability and a CTRS to guide them all through the dining experience. Each person had their own specific cue-card with potential situations that could arise due to their specific disability. My specific role was to act as the waitress of the dining experience at "Cafe252." My duty was to act "not-accommodating" and then switch to accommodating half way through the activity. The entire activity turned out to be quite the experience, to say the LEAST!

I witnessed some things that I will never forget, many of which apply directly to my professional development. I learned that as crazy as this experience may have been.. that it was very real. For example, taking clients/patients out to a community outing. Real situations that I may encounter dealing with accessibility barriers, knowledge and training of the waitstaff, behavior episodes, accommodations, and adaptions.

I learned a lot from facilitating this activity and being able to observe most of the classroom behavior with an insider's perspective. However, on a personal level, I learned that it was very difficult for me to be "not-accommodating." I was cautiously reprimanded by waitstaff to be more unaccommodating. Dealing with the people with disabilities and treating them poorly was against everything in my bones! It was very counter-instinctual to raise my voice to the the blind person, to not looking directly at the person with Cerebral Palsy, to not communicate directly to the person, rather the CTRS. It was all so wrong. It reiterates why we have courtesy rules and why we advocate for the rights and proper treatment of people with disabilities.

I believe this activities had many opportunities to strive for excellence. The activity was very HANDS ON and required myself and my classmates to really get INTO character. I would like to say kudos to my entire class and most especially my PROFESSOR :)) Heather! I believe because I stepped out of my comfort zone and got into character it allowed for my peers to do so as well. Heather.... you raised the bar and exceeded expectations for character and for that you deserve this short and sweet Strive for Excellence-Winner of the Week!

SEE PICTURE: Note Heather flying a paper airplane!