occupational therapy

Enhancing the Behavior of Students with Autism & Sensory Over-responsivity

1 Comment / adaptive equipment, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Coping Strategies, ESSA, Every Student Succeeds Act, Exercise, massage, Movement brakes, noise cancelling headphones, noise reduction, occupational therapy, Positive Behavioral Support, Sensory Modulation, sensory overresponsivity, sensory sensitivity, Sensory-Based Interventions, SISP, Specialized Instructional Support Personnel, speech therapy, speech/language pathologists, Uncategorized /

Over half of students with Autism Spectrum Disorders have sensory over-responsivity to tactile and auditory stimulation with reduced sensory limbic habituation (Green et al., 2015).  Their lack of habituation makes it physiologically more likely they will become distracted and have difficulty learning. Significant sensory modulation difficulties were related to attention and academic achievement challenges in […]

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Sensory Modulation in Pre-K & Kindergarten

A. Jean Ayres, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Ayres Sensory Integration, Coping Strategies, early intervention, early trauma history, ESSA, Exercise, FAB Strategies, Lucy Jane Miller, mental health and sensory processing intervention, Movement brakes, occupational therapy, Physical Self-regulation, Preschool, PRT, PTSD, SBIs, school occupational therapy, school physical therapy, school speech therapy, sensory behavior intervention, sensory behavioral intervention, Sensory Modulation, Sensory-Based Interventions, Uncategorized /

Many children with behavioral, developmental and sensory challenges have difficulty maintaining a quiet alert state for learning.  These children tend to be low registration (miss important sensory input) and/or sensory sensitive (overly responsive to functionally irrelevant sensory input) the majority of the time.  The Sensory Profile is a reliable, valid assessment that can be used

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Sensory-Based Intervention Groups

A. Jean Ayres, adaptive equipment, Ayres Sensory Integration, Comfort rooms, Coping Strategies, Environmental Adaptations, ESSA, Every Student Succeeds Act, Exercise, FAB Trigger & Coping Forms, Feelings, interoception, Lucy Jane Miller, Mindfulness, Movement brakes, Music, noise cancelling headphones, occupational therapy, physical therapy, Positive Behavioral Support, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder teens, SBIs, school occupational therapy, school physical therapy, school speech therapy, Sensory Integration, sensory mindfulness, Sensory Modulation, Sensory-Based Interventions, SISP, Specialized Instructional Support Personnel, Uncategorized /

Sensory-based intervention (SBI) groups can be useful in schools and clinical settings to improve sensory skills, behavior and learning.  SBIs are the guided use of sensory strategies to improve behavior by addressing specific sensory modulation or sensory discrimination challenges.  SBIs are commonly implemented in early intervention, school, and mental health settings through individual, group and consultative interventions.

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Using FAB Strategies®

2 Comments / A. Jean Ayres, adaptive equipment, Art, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Comfort rooms, Coping Strategies, early intervention, Environmental Adaptations, Exercise, FAB Strategies, Kindergarten, mental health and sensory processing intervention, Movement brakes, Music, noise cancelling headphones, noise reduction, occupational therapy, Physical Self-regulation, physical therapy, pivotal response treatment, Positive Behavioral Support, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder teens, Preschool, Pressure Touch, PRT, psychiatric and sensory processing, PTSD, Reducing aggression, restraint and seclusion, SBIs, School intervention, school therapy, sensory behavior intervention, sensory behavioral intervention, sensory mindfulness, Sensory Modulation, sequential bimanual movement, speech therapy, transdisciplinary treatment, Uncategorized, Visual supports, weighted blankets, weighted vest, Winnie Dunn, Yoga /

FABTrigCopForms“Functionally Alert Behavior” FAB Strategies® is an evidence-based curriculum of environmental adaptation, sensory modulation, positive behavioral support, and physical self-regulation strategies for improving the functional behavior of children, adolescents and young adults with complex behavioral challenges FAB Strategies ERIC document Complex behavioral challenges involve a combination of inter-related mental health, developmental, sensory and environmental challenges. The FAB Strategies®

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Sensory-Based Interventions (SBIs) Improve Behavior

A. Jean Ayres, adaptive equipment, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Comfort rooms, Coping Strategies, early intervention, embodiment, Environmental Adaptations, Exercise, FAB Strategies, mental health and sensory processing intervention, Mindfulness, Movement brakes, noise cancelling headphones, noise reduction, occupational therapy, physical therapy, Positive Behavioral Support, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder teens, Preschool, Pressure Touch, psychiatric and sensory processing, PTSD, Reducing aggression, restraint and seclusion, Research, SBIs, sensory behavior intervention, sensory behavioral intervention, Sensory Integration, sensory mindfulness, Sensory-Based Interventions, speech/language pathologists, transdisciplinary treatment, Uncategorized, weighted blankets, weighted vest, Winnie Dunn /

Occupational therapists use sensory-based interventions (SBIs) to improve the behavior of children, adolescents and adults with developmental and sensory processing challenges. SBIs are the guided use of individualized sensory coping strategies and adaptive equipment to improve sensory modulation skills and behavior. Emerging evidence suggests that SBIs can significantly reduce distress and promote attention. SBIs empower

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Applying FAB Strategies

Autism Spectrum Disorder, Coping Strategies, early trauma history, embodiment, Environmental Adaptations, Exercise, FAB Strategies, mental health and sensory processing intervention, Mindfulness, occupational therapy, parental support, Physical Self-regulation, physical therapy, pivotal response treatment, Positive Behavioral Support, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder teens, Preschool, Pressure Touch, psychiatric and sensory processing, PTSD, Research, School intervention, sensory behavior intervention, sensory behavioral intervention, Sensory Integration, sensory mindfulness, speech therapy, speech/language pathologists, Triggers, Visual supports /

I developed FAB Strategies (Functionally Alert Behavior Strategies) to help children, adolescents and young adults who have complex behavioral challenges.  The FAB Strategies Form guides the use of environmental adaptation, sensory modulation, positive behavioral support, and physical self-regulation strategies.  The FAB Strategies forms enable teachers, families as well as occupational, physical, speech/language and mental health

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Coping with Mental Health Challenges

Autism Spectrum Disorder, Coping Strategies, embodiment, Exercise, mental health and sensory processing intervention, Mildred Ross, occupational therapy, Physical Self-regulation, physical therapy, Positive Behavioral Support, Pressure Touch, psychiatric and sensory processing, PTSD, Research, Winnie Dunn, Yoga /

Daily coping strategies for prevention along with coping interventions when symptoms are first noticed are extremely useful for managing mental health and behavioral challenges.  Many individuals confront mental health and behavioral challenges at some times in their life. Particularly those experiencing difficulties with substance abuse, extreme stress, developmental disorders or subtle sensory motor disorders (e.g.,

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Body Awareness Intervention Improves Behavior

A. Jean Ayres, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorders, early trauma history, embodiment, Exercise, FAB Trigger & Coping Forms, Feelings, mental health and sensory processing intervention, Mildred Ross, Mindfulness, Movement brakes, occupational therapy, parental support, Physical Self-regulation, physical therapy, Positive Behavioral Support, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder teens, Pressure Touch, psychiatric and sensory processing, PTSD, School intervention, sensory behavior intervention, sensory behavioral intervention, Sensory Integration, sensory mindfulness, Sensory Modulation, Uncategorized, Winnie Dunn, Yoga /

Many adolescents and young adults with behavioral disorders (e.g., Autism Spectrum, Post Traumatic Stress, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Anorexia Nervosa) have body image challenges that negatively impact their behavior and social relationships. This is especially true for individuals who have developmental, mental health, and/or sensory processing challenges. Adolescents and young adults with body awareness challenges can

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Behavioral, Sensory & Mindfulness Strategies

Autism Spectrum Disorders, Coping Strategies, early intervention, Environmental Adaptations, Exercise, FAB Trigger & Coping Forms, mental health and sensory processing intervention, Mindfulness, occupational therapy, Physical Self-regulation, physical therapy, Positive Behavioral Support, PTSD, Research, sensory behavior intervention, Sensory Integration, Sensory Modulation, Yoga /

Positive Behavioral Support (PBS) interventions are used in many schools to improve student behavior and learning.  PBS interventions involve adapting the classroom environment, teaching basic social skills, and rewarding positive behavior to enhance learning. PBS interventions can be enhanced through integrating them with sensory and mindfulness strategies.  Sensory and mindfulness activities are especially useful when using

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Using Sensory Strategies to Improve Behavior

A. Jean Ayres, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Coping Strategies, early intervention, early trauma history, Environmental Adaptations, FAB Strategies, Lucy Jane Miller, mental health and sensory processing intervention, Mildred Ross, occupational therapy, parental support, physical therapy, Positive Behavioral Support, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder teens, Pressure Touch, psychiatric and sensory processing, PTSD, Research, School intervention, sensory behavior intervention, sensory behavioral intervention, Sensory Integration, speech therapy, transdisciplinary treatment, Virginia Scardina, Winnie Dunn /

Sensory strategies have a significant impact on the behavior of children and adolescents with developmental, mental health, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and sensory processing challenges. Deep pressure touch provided by pediatric occupational therapists through massage, brushing, weighted blankets, mat sandwiches and other sensory strategies are described as extremely positive experiences for children and adolescents with

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