Nethan Vines

In recent years, the rate of children being diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) worldwide has increased. The prevalence also, of autism spectrum disorder has increased. In Australia, the former estimated that 1 child out every 100 children has ASD, now has been adjusted to read 1 in every 70 children is on the spectrum. With roughly 353,880 Australians living with autism, it is crucial to gain a better understanding of how to nurture and care for those around us living with autism spectrum disorders and other disabilities. Autism Spectrum Disorder is a disability that affects communication, social and behavioral abilities of a child. Delayed speech, repetitive behaviors such as hand flapping and head rocking, isolated play, inability to regulate emotions and lack of eye contact and warmth may all be signs of a toddler exhibiting a possibility of being on the spectrum. The moment a specialist confirms to parents that their child is on the spectrum may be one of the most p...

A marble, a small ball, a ball of playdough, a pom pom .... using every day items is important right now for occupational therapists as we work in our telehealth sessions using objects families may already have at home. These activities using a marble are simple, fun ways to develop a child's fine motor skills.  As an occupational therapist we often address fine motor skills when children have difficulty manipulating tools such as pencils, scissors and glue sticks.  Fine motor skills can affect a child's ability to carry out their self care in using a toothbrush, using cutlery, tying shoes laces or manipulating fastenings such as buttons and zippers. The main fine motor areas that an occupational therapist may address include: Pincer grasp - This is the neat "pinch" achieved between the thumb and index finger.   Thumb opposition  - This refers to the ability of the thumb to rotate and reach to touch all other fingertips of the same hand.  Palmar ar...

W hen Lisa Quinones-Fontanez’s son Norrin was diagnosed with autism at age 2, she and her husband did what most parents in their position do — they scrambled to form a plan to help their child. Ultimately, they followed the experts’ advice. They put Norrin in a school that used applied behavioral analysis, or ABA, the longest-standing and best-established form of therapy for children with autism. They also hired an ABA therapist to direct a home program. ABA involves as much as 40 hours a week of one-on-one therapy. Certified therapists deliver or oversee the regimen, organized around the child’s individual needs — developing social skills, for instance, and learning to write a name or use the bathroom. The approach breaks desirable behaviors down into steps and rewards the child for completing each step along the way. Bijou contemplated using similar strategies in people, judging that verbal rewards — saying “good job,” for instance — would serve as adequate motivatio...