Heya girls! Sorry I haven't been around, been working heaps and I got sick while working... blah blah blah.

OT. Occupational Therapist. The kind our children generally see are paediatric sensory OT's. To get a good one, you need one that understands Spectrum issues as well as SPD (sensory processing disorder). If they don't know what SPD is.... move on.

88% of kids on the Spectrum have SPD. All of their issues with SPD are different, some kids only have one area, others have different ones and sometimes they have them all.

Pre-OT Matilda was 4 years old and screaming 3 hours a day and having meltdowns where we had to physically restrain her and escaping once or twice daily and running away. Matilda is now 6 and after 18 months of OT it is rare for her to have a full meltdown. I can happen maybe once or twice a month and she doesn't run anymore at all. I can now go to the toilet and shower without dead bolting the house. The OT helps them learn how to cope with their sensory issues, and has helped Matilda learn how to teach her body to calm down when she gets upset.

When Matilda got anxious, she would breath shallowly and almost hyperventilate when she was winding up for a meltdown. The OT taught her how to take deep breaths by doing exercises and games with bubbles and races with those blow toys... (think party noise makers). She gave us a listening tool to help Matilda cope with different noises (AMAZING!!) and gave us exercises to train Matilda's body to hold urine and be able to make it to the toilet.

I know that was just a peek into what we do with the OT, but I thought I'd write it out for you all


Oh Tan my heart breaks for him I hope his hands are okay.

Lilima, the ipod touch is an awesome idea, I have known quite a few spectrum families who have gotten them on funding. I haven't tried yet, but I will