When working with kids that have disabilities, it is important you give them plenty of oppurtunities for sensory imput. It is also important to know the different needs of these kids for sensory imput. One also has to maintain professionalism while doing so. There are different types of sensory imput: sight, sound, touch, smell, and feel. I will be explaining how to make a schedule involving sensory imput. One can also use this with kids that have no senosry issues.
Say you are working with a child that has a need for deep pressure. It can be rewarding for a child to do their seatwork if they know afterwards that they are going to get some deep pressure. If the child is non- verbal and understands picture icons as well as some words, a first then schedule will work. In the slot labeld first put a picture of the childs work, on the then part put a picture of a squeeze ball, giving them deep pressure on their hands, or a picture of a squeeze machine, a side hug, a hand squeeze, or a body sock.
Say no you have a child that is verbal and needs a sensory break every fifteen minutes. This child for instance has high energy, so he has a choice of many different options. If he is having a hard time concentrating, what I would do is offer him to walk a few laps, and while walking laps allow him to do wall push ups. It is a great way to get rid of extra energy, get the break he needs, and focus his attetion on seat work when entering back into a classroom setting. When he gets back to the classroom he is now feeling good, and ready to do his math.
Smells are very important to everyone. Now imagine you can't tell someone that you would like lotion on your hands to smell? You know this is the only thing that is going to relax you. It is very important knowing these kids, and there needs. There was a child named Frankie. Frankie would be upset throwing a fit on the floor when I would come into a classroom. The staff would say " I dont know whats wrong with him!", then my question would be " Did you give him oppurtunity for a sensory break?", they would catch on quickly when I approach Frankie with his sensory schedule and he would pick lotion. Now for most of these kids they have PICA issues, which in essence means eating things not meant for eating. So you would put the lotion on for frankie massaging it into his hands and arms, giving him deep pressure, and having something to smell.
Another thing that is very sensory for autistic kids is having fidgets to play with. For instance There is a child that likes a straw in each hand. There is also a child that likes mope heads in her hand. There is a child that like a piece of belt in her hand to flick around. There are kids that rip paper because the like the feeling and sound. In order to beable to do these things, they need to first get their seat work done. It is very important to teach these children it is a reinforcer of good behavior to beable to have these things. You do not want to reward bad behavior, because they begin to think if they do something naughty then they can have the object they desire. It is your basic reinforcement/punishment theory of Psychology.
Last but not least Audio imput is very important to alot of higher and lower functioning kids with autism. A lot of the higher functioning kids will rush through their seat work if they know they can listen to music. Music is a very important part of their day. So to make sure they do their seat work right, every half an hour, they can listen to a C.D. player, MP3, or whatever kind of music player they may have, for fifteen minutes. If they know they get this break, it is very rewarding to them to stay on task, and stay working for that full half an hour.
In the end, everyone needs sensory imput. Most normal fuctioning people do this in the form of hugs, handshakes. Some spray airfreshner, put perfume or scented lotion on. Alot of people jam out to music while cleanign around the house, our while doing homework. It is a very rewarding feeling to get in a shower at the end of the day and let the hot water run over me. The reason for a sensory schedule is to help these children know when it is appropriate to be doing these things. It would not be appropriate to want to take a shower while you are suppose to be in gym class. It would not be appropriate to put on a body sock while on an outing at Walmart. Sensory imput is about the time and place. That is why we have a schedule, and try and stick to it.
