photos of OT/SIT session, part one

I'm going to post a series of photos from Jacob's OT/SIT session yesterday, just to give a feel for what happens during his weekly therapy sessions. I'll have to do it in two parts, as blogger is only letting me download 5 photos at a time. I left out the first 15 minutes of the sessions, which involves the Astronaut Board work that I already posted about last week, and a few small-motor activities that I didn't think to photograph.

In this first photo (above) Jacob climbs a "mountain" of mattresses, inner tubes, and other soft structures. This works on balance and integrating his vestibular and proprioceptive systems.


In this photo (to the left), Jacob's OT offers him choices as to what to take into the dark "cave" with him. The choices consist of a rubber chicken, several squishy balls of various textures (some that light up, some that make noise, etc), and a flashlight. This is actually RDI work, choices and appraisal, and shows how nicely this therapist incorporates what I've asked her to despite the fact that she has absolutely no RDI training. Jacob initially chooses a ball that lights up, then changes his mind (once he sees how dark it is inside that cave) and chooses the flashlight instead (working on seeing the consequence of his choices).


Here Jacob enters the "cave", flashlight in hand. The cave is made up of inner tubes and hollow soft climbing structures, and is tight enough that Jacob has to really work to get through it, working on his proprioceptive system as well as his muscle strength and coordination. He later revisits the cave to hide "treasures" (various balls) for other kids in later sessions to find (more RDI work, anticipating other kids coming and how they will be surprised to find the treasures).


The cave exits at the top of this "hill", and Jacob rolls down (proprioceptive and vestibular work). He has to decide to roll the flashlight down first to free up his hands before he starts rolling (RDI planning work).





After rolling down the "hill", Jacob climbs aboard the air pillow and is rocked and bounces at varying speeds by the OT. More vestibular and proprioceptive work.