Get out the hankies!

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-19-2005
Get out the hankies!
5
Fri, 07-15-2005 - 7:26am

Just wanted to share a nice moment.

At the center where DS gets OT, they are starting something new with the HF ASD and AS kids, for the ones they feel it is appropriate. In addition to the regular individual one to one session, they pair kids with opposing strengths and weaknesses and have them complete a task together. After, the pair gets to celebrate together with the same reward/reinforcer.

Here is how it worked yesterday. My son has strong gross motor skills and is pretty verbal, but has poor motor planning and poor attention span. He is paired with a little girl who has low gross motor skills but strong motor planning, has emerging language but prefers to sign, and a good attention span.

The OT's set up an obstacle course and did it kind of like a relay. Eric starts and picks up a puzzle piece, jumps through 2 hoops to where Katie is standing and gives her the piece, Katie jumps on the tramp 5 times and gives Eric the piece, Eric crawls through a tunnel and gives Katie the piece. Katie rolls on a therapy ball and puts the piece in the puzzle. That kind of thing.

The hankie moment came at the end. For their reward, they got to play on a "little tykes" toy that has two seats and a steering wheel in the middle. The kids turn the wheel and it spins them. Katie and Eric are both "spinners" as stims. But part of the deal with Eric is that he can't just spin, he has to sing a song or count. So Eric and Katie get in. Eric digs in and furiously starts turning the wheel to send them whirling. I was afraid little Katie would get whiplash!

But then Eric starting sing the ABC song at the top of his lungs. Katie got this huge smile on her face, threw her head and arms back and started signing the ABC's in the air!

Not a dry eye in the house! Where's a video cam when you need it!

Katherine

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-24-2003
Fri, 07-15-2005 - 8:54am
That does sound like an incredible moment.

Pat

Happiness is a conscious choice, not an automatic response. --

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2004
Fri, 07-15-2005 - 11:38am

Katherine,

WOW!! What a moment that must have been!!!

Michelle

Avatar for betz67
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 07-16-2005 - 7:01am

what an incredible moment! what a neat way to work w/ the kids! Wow!

Betsy

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-24-2004
Mon, 07-18-2005 - 2:43pm

Katherine,

What a sweet story! That is an amazing example of a connection being made between two ASD children. I did get teary-eyed reading the story.

Suzi

Avatar for bari1
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 07-18-2005 - 10:21pm
What a cool activity and a great response.