The Autism Matrix: A Book Review

http://www.amazon.com/review/R2LW8CACI00V5F/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

Putting Tack on and Off

Learning to brush and help put the tack on and off seems like the perfect task for this little girl-giving her sensory input and working on motor skills,sequencing and following directions.

The fishing Game Activity

Check out my new therapy idea share in today's American Hippotherapy Association's magazine.
http://www.barbarasmithoccupationaltherapist.com/ahafishgamearticle.html

Back to work!

All of my kids did great today (which means no crying) even though I haven't seen them in 3 weeks, one child was brand new to hippotherapy and we had to stay indoors the whole day due to rain, sleet and other yucky weather phenomena. One 2 year old just started standing after the doctors realized that she had fluid in her ears and that was impacting her balance. So not only did I see her stand on the floor for the first time-she stood on top of the horse!
The new client had increased muscle tone and tight hips but she was able to straddle facing forwards and backwards and bear weight with assist on open palms (with help to keep them open). then she surprised me by doing the Velcro bottle activity all by herself-she seemed to know what to do without any help at all.   For those of you who don't know- the Velcro bottle has little toys attached with Velcro that the children can pull off and insert inside. I actually used a smaller one today (the size of a drinking bottle) with a smaller handle that fits nicely into a 2 year old's hand. But the larger ones made of dish washer soap is great for older kids.

Ideal Sports for Kids with Autism

Florida Vacation

I'm back from my Florida vacation and bracing for a big Massachusetts storm tomorrow. Here's a shot of my husband mounting an old horse before we walked around the trails near Myakka River State Park where we stayed in a cabin. My son did well for his first experience on a horse other than an amusement park ride but said that once was enough. oh well.......


Enjoy the video of Frosty who was on the Ed Sullivan show during my youth. He is 74 years old.