Help Autistic Children Access Occupational Therapy Materials
Help me give my students materials and resources to improve their gross motor and fine motor skills. I am excited to work on calming and self regulating strategies using yoga and other gross motor activities.
This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
My Students
My early intervention occupational therapy students are amazing 3-5-year-olds. My students need assistance developing their fine motor, gross motor, visual motor, sensory-motor, and other skills. After a difficult year and a half of distance learning, we are returning to 100% in-person school. Many of my students had difficulty accessing distance learning last year, and are subsequently even further behind in the development of these age-level skills. My students would benefit tremendously from these materials to help them develop their delayed motor skills and prevent them from further regression. Through play and exploration, I work 1:1 and in small groups with my students to learn and develop these motor skills. These requested materials would make a huge difference in giving the children resources to learn and grow.
My Project
My preschool students have a variety of different disabilities including Autism, Down Syndrome, and other physical and developmental disabilities that make accessing school and play more difficult. The students I work with have additional difficulty with fine motor, gross motor, and sensory-motor skills that are necessary as they continue to grow and learn. In addition to being an Occupational Therapist, I also teach yoga. I am hoping to focus on bringing yoga to the classrooms this year as a tool for working on sensory regulation, calming strategies, practice imitating movements, strengthening, and coordination. The other materials requested are either other gross motor activities, or fine motor/visual motor integration toys that will be very beneficial for my students. My goal is always to provide activities that I can do with the students, but also leave in the classroom for them to have access to every day.
Many of my students come from lower socioeconomic homes and do not have access to materials like this outside of school.
I want to be able to provide all of my students, regardless of socioeconomic status, quality materials that will help them grow and develop to their full potential. Covid has been especially difficult for my families, and I want to do my part in making sure they have the materials they need for success while at school. Through guided play, therapy sessions, and free play and exploration, my students will benefit from having these materials in their classroom environment.
More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
Gaiam Kids Yoga Mat Exercise Mat, Yoga for Kids with Fun Prints - Playtime for Babies, Active & Calm Toddlers and Young Children, Prickly Pear, 3mm, Model: 05-63946
• Amazon Business
$17.99
2
$35.98
Gaiam Kids Yoga Mat Exercise Mat, Yoga for Kids with Fun Prints - Playtime for Babies, Active & Calm Toddlers and Young Children, Birdsong, 3mm
• Amazon Business
$17.98
2
$35.96
YogaDirect Fun Yoga Mat for Kids - Sun, 6.5mm
• Amazon Business
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Brubaker and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
