Finger Isolation

Owen's therapy is working towards finger isolation, primarily so he can point to a picture on a communication device.  If you look back to my Sensory Boards post you will see some ideas to promote finger isolation. Owen needed something with larger holes than what I had previously made. After discussion with Owen's therapists,  joint efforts at various prototypes, we have come up with this box to promote finger isolation when using a switch button.

What you need

• Thin box  (I used an old Mic-Key button box but a game box would also suffice) 
• Old laundry basket
• Black spray paint can
• Tape
• Stanley knife
• Old plastic cutting board
• Velcro

Instructions

• Cut square hole in top of box  (to attach laundry basket)
• Cut hole in bottom of box*, big enough for your switch button
• Cut a piece from the laundry basket for the top of the box
• Tape the basket piece to the inside of the box
• Spray paint the box
• Put Velcro on the bottom of the box and on the cutting board (for attaching the box and the switch button)
• Place a switch button inside the box, attach the box to the Velcro and use.

*The idea of the cut out in the bottom of the box is to keep the switch separate from the box.  Some switch button's tend to be sensitive and this reduces the risk of the box moving causing the switch to activate.

Happy switching:-) 

Update 1/07/2015

The black paint has peeled off of the tape I used, so I have had to put black tape over the top. Good as new now.

How to make your own Therapy Bench

I home school Owen and in order to position, support and encourage correct posture when doing table work, Owen needed a height adjustable, tilting, cut out table (there will be a future post about this item) and a therapy bench.  I sit behind him on the bench, to provide guidance and support. In researching the therapy benches I discovered not only were they nearly $800 (including delivery) but the one I was looking at took a maximum weight of 82 kgs, given that Owen is 25 kgs, that doesn't leave much left for me (or any person for that matter).  Quite by accident I came across a picture on Pintrest of a PVC therapy bench someone had made.  There were no instructions but it gave me enough to go on.  The finished product was around $100 and as he grows I just put longer legs on it, so it grows with him.

Preparation

First, you need to work out how big you want your bench and how tall.  Talking to your child’s therapists will help.  Decide on what mm PVC you want to use.  We used 25 mm but there was a 20mm option.  All your fittings must be the same mm.

What you need

From a hardware shop:

• PVC tubing (we bought 5 but could have got away with 4) 
• 6 x T junction fittings.  I use these for the "feet".  You could use end caps instead, I just wanted a little bit more floor coverage.
• A piece of plywood for the bench top (we bought a 12mm x 1200mm x 396mm and cut to size)
• An outdoor furniture cushion to the size you want (if you are super handy you might be able to make your own). 
• Stick on Velcro.
• Smallish wood screws for screwing the saddles into the plywood (we used 14 all up).
• A pkt of pressure pipe saddles (we used 7 saddles all up).
• Optional PVC glue (we did not use).

Order online:

• 4 x 3 way corner PVC joins (for the four extreme corners).
• 2x 4 way corner PVC joins (for the middle legs and cross support).

There are a number of ebay shops online that sell these specialist products.  I used a company called Klevercages https://www.klevercages.com.au/.

Tools:

• Screw driver
• Hacksaw (for the pvc)
• Woodsaw (for the plywood)
• Paper, pen to calculate the lengths you need to cut.

Instructions:

• Measure the inside of your T junctions, corner joins etc.  You need to take this into consideration when cutting your PVC to get your bench the right height.  This is the complex bit.  Remember the measure twice, cut once rule.
• Cut your PVC and put the frame together, see the pictures I have shared. Use glue if you want (But don’t on the legs if you want to grow it).
• Cut your plywood and using the pipe saddles screw it to the frame.  We used 7.
• Velcro the cushion on the top.

Enjoy!