#OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

[incognitopolls]

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[merakisphere]

Transforming stress into creativity and relaxation, one Fidget Bloom at a time! 🌸🌺🌼 Check out my latest DIY video on how to make your own fidget bloom - the ultimate fidget toy that can transform into a variety of shapes to suit your mood and various needs! Not only is it a great tool for stress relief, but it's also a fun and creative outlet to keep your hands busy. Give it a try and let me know what you think! :)

Shop dozens of colours and styles:

Etsy Shop | Official Website

I've been asked where I prefer customers to shop my products from, and tbh whichever platform provides them the most convenience for them, I'd say. Etsy is nice because you can shop for other amazing handmade products as well, and have a cart full of awesome things. Shopping from my website introduces you to me and my products a bit more, and it's a more personalized shopping experience. There are pros and cons, but overall, I'm just happy to have my handmade fidget flowers up and available for sale, anywhere!

Ways to enjoy this include: Sensory Fidget \\ Candle Holder \\ Hair Accessory \\ Vehicle Ornament \\ Office Stress Ball \\ Unique Gift Idea \\ Fruit Holder \\ Christmas Tree Decoration \\ Focus Tool \\ Birthday Gift \\ Egg Stand \\ Wedding Favour \\ Concentration Aid \\ Fidget Bracelet \\ Stim Necklace \\ & More!

[perplexingluciddreams]

We are very much moving in the right direction with tweaks to my trial chair.

It feels strange and different. And hard for my body to be in a new position, even though it will be positive in the long run.

I am sore from all the moving and body being held in different positions than I am used to. But it also feels very comfy and good.

I am so happy that it is finally working out!!

[curiositysavesthecat]

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[itscoldinwonderland]

People hating on ABA is so interesting to me only because that same energy is usually not carried over towards any other field of mental health, despite the fact the all fields of mental health have the potential to be abusive, even traumatic. I mean .. do you even know what a psychiatric ward is?

Anyway, I work in childcare I have seen both abas and ots, I see them all the time, and frankly I actually can't tell the difference between the ots and the abas. I've even seen kids have both an aba and an ot. What I do see is that the therapist is trying to minimize harmful behaviors and encourage better ones.

[edsandco]

Shout out to my Occupational Therapist for:

Trading fun/weird facts with me.

Helping me out with using my metalsmithing skills to make myself ring splints and for being willing to combine the brace making stuff she has with the metal pieces I'm making to create what will hopefully be the perfect brace for me to wear while I crochet.

Never batting an eye at my weird goals or hobbies.

Listening to me!

I called my right arm my hammer arm today, and she not only accepted that statement but knew what I meant.

Already alerting the physical therapist I'll be seeing in late October to the fact that they need to work together to figure out getting me a wheelchair that fits better and that has a good back and cushion.

Trying to get insurance to start covering my compression wear so I can get properly fitted good quality gloves & sleeves.

Going down rabbit holes with me but also getting me back on topic eventually.

Making OT fun.

For not judging me for talking to someone else with EDS in the waiting room for like 20 minutes after my appointment.

Not being mad that sometimes IBS and/or ADHD make me late and for being understanding about the 2 last minute cancelations I had after I was covid negative but still struggling too much with fatigue to drive safely.

Giving me movie recommendations.

Lastly, for being great at her job and helping me meet objectives we set.

She's great even though penguin x-rays now haunt my dreams.

[moss-opossum]

The occupational therapy intake went horribly. The OT kept remarking “how much I have going on” (how much is wrong with me), and said she didn’t know what to do with me. When I told her I am very isolated, and want to go out for more than groceries and doctor visits, and to be able to work, she said I should “just work from home”, accompanied with some implied prejudice against intellectually disabled people. At that point I felt like I was going to cry.

She thinks I’m already at my functional limit and “doesn’t want to add more” to help me improve?? Even though that’s her job?? She indicated that she would ask her colleagues what they think we can work on and would discuss at the next appointment, but after that kind of unprofessional treatment, I don’t want to go back; I’m canceling all my scheduled appointments with the practice. I’ll look for another OT I guess.

[lines-and-pictures]

A little mermaid inspired spread

[aeshnacyanea2000]

‘Some people might consider this cruel, Mr Wilkinson.’ ‘Yes, sir, we asked him about that, sir, but he said no, it wasn’t. He said it provided—’ his forehead wrinkled ‘—occ-you-pay-shun-all ther-rap-py, healthy exercise, prevented moping and offered that greatest of all treasures which is Hope, sir.’

-- Terry Pratchett - Going Postal

[whatshouldwecallchronicillness]

My client: IDK, aren't fidget toys for kids?

Me with my hands out of view of the camera:

[octobercowboy]

went to an occupation therapist for the first time. expected to be met with “you can do that though, just try!” and when i met the ot she heard everything i said, we did some tests and she said that i needed to conserve my energy to do the things i want to do. she said chronic illness make you tired. bar is already low. we just have to work within the bar and prioritize things.

someone believed me and wants to help me. this is very new.

[advocatingpeanut]

[jotun-philosopher]

Adventuring/dungeon delving as occupational therapy: discuss.

[tofinishwhatistart]

The nice thing about being neurodivergent and working with neurodivergent kiddos….

Is that I can empathize with them. Because I LITERALLY KNOW WHAT SOME OF THEIR SYMPTOMS FEEL LIKE.

And I can calm parents, as they apologize for their child’s behaviors, as there is a national shortage for ADHD meds, and I’m there right along side of my kiddos, struggling a bit extra as I’ve been saving all my pills for work days, and cutting dosage because some is better than none.

Good luck out there parents!

[nld-as-insights]

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy (OT) is a kind of allied health therapy in which the term “occupation” does not necessarily refer to a person’s job. It refers to the activities people do to occupy their time such as work, play, education, sleep, social participation, activities of daily living (ADLs), and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). ADLs are tasks such as bathing, dressing, and eating. IADLs are like ADLs, but they are more complicated activities that people might call “life skills” or  “adulting.” They include cleaning, cooking, and driving.

Occupational therapists (Also abbreviated OT) help people with various impairments work on functional goals. This can look very different with different populations and in different settings. Sometimes OT involves practicing an activity, and other times it involves practicing an underlying skill that will support the ability to perform various activities. For example, OTs who work in schools help children with motor skills challenges with their handwriting. They might have the child warm up their hands by doing an easier motor activity for part of the session, and then practice the actual handwriting for the rest of the session.

An OT and help someone with non-verbal learning disorder (NLD) with sensory processing, visual tracking, visual perceptual skills, fine motor skills, handwriting, and life skills. Visual tracking is the process of coordinating one’s eye movements to track objects. Fine motor skills involve small movements that we make with our hands. Sensory processing and visual perceptual skills are defined in previous posts on this blog.

A person with non-verbal learning disorder (NLD or NVLD), also known as developmental visual spatial disorder (DVSD) can hopefully access an OT through an outpatient clinic, and a child can hopefully access one through their school. The clinic OT will be able to focus more on the underlying skills such as sensory processing, while the school OT will have to focus on skills that they can prove are school related based on whichever policies they are required to follow.

[moss-opossum]

I'm filling in an intake form for occupational therapy and they gave me a diagram to indicate where I experience symptoms.

Image ID: A cropped screenshot of a full-body diagram, front and back; and diagrams for each hand, front and back. On the side is a control panel showing buttons to undo, redo, clear, and indicate symptoms (indicated with red Xs). Above the picture it reads "Mark on the pictures where you have symptoms" /end ID.

My first thought was "can I just say 'all of it'?" Well I tried to fill it in and

Image ID: A cropped screenshot of just the above diagram without the control panel, with a grid of red Xs over the wrists, thumbs, and lower two joints of all fingers on both hands; and covering the entire lower half and arms, shoulders, and neck of the back of the full-body body diagram; and the entirety of the front body diagram save for the head, neck, and part of the chest. /end ID.

I RAN OUT OF XS. THEY WILL NOT LET ME PLACE MORE.

I am losing it, this is just so funny to me.