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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 / JLP96007

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 / JLP96007

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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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 / JLP96007

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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Classroom Environmental Adaptations

Uncategorized / JLP96007

Noise canceling headphones reduce noise volume for less distractibility and inappropriate behavior. Low noise volume in the class or home setting also improves classroom behavior. The class noise level should be kept at a low volume. Students tend to behave better when the noise level of the room is kept low. A fidget is a

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Movement Enhances Emotional Expression

Autism Spectrum Disorder, Coping Strategies, Feelings, Physical Self-regulation, Positive Behavioral Support, School intervention, Uncategorized / JLP96007

Strategies combining movement with expressing feelings motivates students to improve their self-regulation skills. Movement activities that involve emotion expression are especially helpful for motivating students who have behavioral, developmental, trauma history and/or sensory processing challenges. Movement activities are fun and can easily be integrated into strategies to encourage the expression and understanding of feelings. A strategy

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Sensory Interventions for Autism

Uncategorized / JLP96007

The new DSM-5 Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) diagnostic criteria finally includes sensory symptoms (e.g., over or under-responsiveness to or atypical interest in sensory stimuli) as part of the diagnosis and treatment of Autism. This inclusion of sensory symptoms under the domain “restricted repetitive behaviors” (RRB) expands sensory processing evaluation, research, and interventions related to the

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Classroom Exercise Improves Transitions and Learning

2 Comments / Exercise, Movement brakes, Physical Self-regulation, Uncategorized / JLP96007

As greater educational demands are made on students and teachers, often beginning in preschool or kindergarten, it is increasingly important to embed brief exercise strategies into the elementary school curriculum. Movement activities done before transitions enable students to integrate their learning and behave more appropriately. Increasing time spent in seated teaching and testing along with

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Improving Functional Movement & Behavior

Sensory Integration, Sensory Modulation, Uncategorized / JLP96007

Addressing functional movement skills is important in children and adolescents with functional movement and behavioral challenges. The FAB Goal-Plan-Review strategy promotes functional movement, behavioral, developmental, and learning skills. Teaching children and adolescents to use adaptive strategies and equipment addressing dyspraxia (e.g., direction following, organizational, printing, cursive writing, keyboarding, and/or shoe tying difficulties) can improve behavior

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Combining Sensory Integration with Behavioral Strategies

Uncategorized / JLP96007

FAB (Functionally Alert Behavior) Strategies synthesize sensory integration with behavioral strategies to help children and adolescents with behavioral, developmental, and sensory processing challenges. Some therapists limit themselves to using only sensory integration or behavioral techniques. However, combining these interventions provides opportunities for structure and child-centered movement that improve behavior in children with complex needs. Sensory

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Sensory Strategies for Childhood Trauma

5 Comments / Uncategorized / JLP96007

After 20 years as a pediatric occupational therapist, I got a job as Mental Health Coordinator at Head Start and immediately discovered that children with behavioral problems and an early trauma history respond dramatically to developmental and sensory integration interventions. Many of my children who had childhood trauma and behavioral problems showed sensory discrimination, as

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