My students need:
• 8 Weighted vests that provide proprioceptive input with deep pressure to help increase arousal level and attention.
• 11 Weighted lap pads offers children pressure touch and proprioceptive feedback and can be easily used in the classroom across the lap.
• Theraputty comes in six colors ranging from soft to most resistive and can be used for a variety of finger, hand and wrist resistive exercises to facilitate grasp patterns. Students need to be able to take home their own putty with individual exercises for best results.
• 10 seating cushions - inflatable seat that combines dynamic seating and static positioning. It combines sitting on a ball and wedge in one to encourage correct posture for improved core strength leading directly to improved handwriting and attention. The discs also provide a calming effect for many students as they get to have an outlet for excess energy.
• Thera-bands, or resistive bands (Latex free) and 5 Turtle Weights to improve strength, mobility and flexibility. Tied around a chair, the child can stretch the bands using their legs while doing desk work.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Fara's classroom raised $2,491
This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
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 Students: My special needs and pre-referral students in the general education classroom range from Kindergarten to fifth grade. They have been working very hard to achieve their potential this year and are excited about learning. Most have made gains but many find it hard to stay still for extended periods of time. We are integrating movement breaks, yoga and sensory diets into our daily schedule but without the actual equipment for the classroom, we are not making the progress that is necessary for true success.
My Project: As the demands of school are increasing, staying focused and alert has gotten ever more challenging for K-5 students in the New York City public schools.
According to current data for PS 36, 85% of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch. 11% of our students are English language learners and 25% are students with special needs. Students with disabilities, living in impoverished communities need as much help as possible getting the equipment needed to improve participation in school based activities. Many of the NYC public schools lack the funding for extra supplies, exercise and sensory based equipment. Students with various learning disabilities including ADHD and Autism have pronounced sensory needs and require adaptive equipment and external supports, such as weighted vests, weighted lap pads, Therabands (resistance bands),Theraputty (for fine motor strength in preparation for writing) Seating Discs and Wedge Cushions to help maintain a “ready to learn” state of being. Not only would this equipment be used in the therapy room, it would be used for pushing into the classroom, maintaining that the least restrictive environment is always considered the optimal goal.
My Project
During the course of the day, while using this equipment, specifically the weighted vests and lap pads, my students will be able to attend to their classwork with increased attention due to the feedback that they are now receiving through their senses. They will be in a calmer state overall and less distracted and fidgety. Therabands and Theraputty will provide both proprioceptive feedback plus increase upper extremity and fine motor strength and dexterity.
These donations will deeply enhance the quality of therapy that these children truly need.
They are faced with more obstacles than the average student in New York City and don't take for granted the love and concern providers and teachers give each day. On going education on sensory processing and how it effects a child's development and participation in school is critical in raising test scores and making a difference in our community.
Nearly all 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
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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. Fara and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
