Horizons Therapy Services, Dundalk Videos

The way neurodivergent minds work differently is just so amazing sometimes. How satisfying is this? Neurodivergent minds often think in different ways so we are often able to see alternative uses for things and alternative ways things can work. In occupational therapy, we refer to this as opportunities and affordances, what does an environment or an object enable and allow you to do, and what is possible. Lots of things are possible! #opportunitiesandaffordances #neuroaffirming #neurodivergent #neurodiversity #actuallyautistic #Autisticjoy #Autistic #occupationsofchildren #occupationaltherapist #occupationaltherapy #children #adhd #dyspraxia #sensoryprocessing #chasethedopamine #fun #play #playallday

If you can imagine this to the tune of Supermario Brothers then you're half way there! This obstacle course was done by two kids who built the whole thing collaboratively and then went through it as Mario and Luigo. Each time, one of them completed the course while the other one played the Supermario theme on YouTube. Great craic. Great self advocacy between this pair, great collaboration and compromise. Both have different motor skills and levels of daring so the course catered to both their preferences. Again, NO SOCIAL SKILLS training here. Just social opportunities if they want it. These two dip in and out of playing collaboratively /playing separately and their autonomy is respected at all times. #occupationaltherapy #occupationaltherapist #occupationsofchildren #fun #play #playplayplay #meaningfuloccupation #mentalhealth #autonomy #selfadvocacy #neurodivergent #neurodiversity #actuallyautistic #Autistic #adhd #Autisticjoy #dyspraxia #sensoryprocessing

We love watching things move here! So fun to see cause and effect. This is also demonstrating trajectory schema, a play scheme where children really enjoy movement - moving their own bodies, watching things move and making things move. Also it so stimmy to watch, hence all the flapping and cheering !

Festive feelings in our waiting room! 🎄✨️

What are age appropriate toys or games? A few years ago a friend's parent said that they liked my "childlike spirit" and I was initially unsure how to take this, but I realise it was a compliment and it is something I like about myself. It's funny how we sometimes talk about "growing out" of things, or being immature and how we "should" be moving on to more grown up things. Can you grow out of joy? How sad to think that this could be true! This is a common thing said about neurodivergent people of all ages - that we should be leaving behind the joyful things of our childhood...but in reality humans need joy to bring meaning to life, and where you find your joy is your choice- be it a record collection, comic books, cartoons, Lego, hiking, fantasy novels, video games, martial arts, painting scuba diving, Barbie dolls.....whatever..... Occupational therapists talk about "meaningful" occupations - things that bring value or meaning to our lives, and one of the categories of meaningful occupation is play or leisure. Humans need this! Anyway, here is my squishmallow collection. I, a grown adult, adore that I can fully give myself permission to embrace this Including my new cat from @aldi_ireland #occupationsofchildren #occupation #meaningfuloccupation #occupationsofadults #occupationaltherapist #occupationaltherapy #joy #fun #activitiesofdailyliving #actuallyautistic #Autistic #AuDHD #adhd #dyspraxia #sensoryprocessing #mentalhealth

A big structure in the clinic today! Can you tell what it was for?? Watch til the end! This ramp was almost 6 ft tall! I have to say I was nervous about this one. But it was not my idea. It was my client’s and they were so passionate and excited about, so we had to make it work! And we sure did, all of us ended up involved….3 children of different ages, 3 OTs and an OT student! Let me tell you, it was a riot, everyone was laughing and sweaty and it was so fun to have such a big group of us all involved. We swapped roles for each turn. Everyone helped for each turn – stabilizing the barrel, reassembling the ramp, pushing the barrel back up and also pushing the barrel back down for each turn! #occupationaltherapy #occupationaltherapist #ot #meaningfuloccupation #occupationalflow #flow #occupationsofchildren #children #childdevelopment #play #playplayplay #neuroaffirming #neurodivergent #neurodiversity #neurokin #teamwork #actuallyautistic #Autistic #activitiesofdailyliving #adhd #variableattentionstimulustrait #vast #dyspraxia #sensoryprocessing #sensoryintegration #fun #paediatrics #pediatrics #AuDHD

Can you tell what this is? Looks likes a mess, doesn't?? Well it's an obstacle course. But it's so much more than that, really. I built some of it and my client (aged 7) built the majority of it. I do love an object used in an unconventional way. In occupational therapy, we sometimes call this "opportunities and affordances" - what are we allowed or enabled or capable of doing with this object or in this environment? This is where we need to nurture little neurodivergent minds, minds who think differently and in ways the majority don't. This is where we get questions that rock the status quo, innovations, new inventions, alternative strategies. By encouraging and supporting this way of thinking. Because I surely did not foresee the Guinness World Record books being used as stepping stones today, but here we are.....

The joy of discovering a new stim! Even better, getting to share it. Today myself and a preschooler were spinning the disc shaped cookies and watching them, when we discovered THIS...the whole cookie jar spins! Watch this with sound on for maximum stimability! Sooooo satisfying As OT's we talk about "opportunities and affordances" of objects or environments e.g. what does it enable or allow you to do? Sometimes that is an opportunity to stim, and that is a meaningful occupation. Just wee reminder that stimming is a very human trait, and while neurodivergents do it in more "unusual" ways than neurotypicals do, it is almost never harmful and it is often joyful. Let it be. Or better yet, join in!

We love Lycra!! As do so many of our clients This is a suspended Lycra "bridge" we constructed ourselves in the clinic - my knot tying days as a girl guide came in handy! The Lycra provides some very specific tactile pressure as well as muscular resistance when you move against it. As you can see here, the therapists are helping the swing to sway, so providing movement experiences too. There may also have been singing! Many senses integrated and working together here to allow a person to process this experience. This multisensory experience can be regulating, when enjoyed by a person.

Soooo...this might look a little unusual and like we are holding a child captive....but bear with me while I explain! This swing is made of very thick, navy Lycra and is chosen very often by children who come to see us. As you can see the swing is kind of like a cocoon - dark and squeezy, giving lots of lovely tactile pressure. This little one is kicking her legs and pushing her body against the fabric, getting lots of great muscular resistance and activating her proprioceptive system. This system helps us develop better awareness of our body, how much force we are exerting and what position we are in. The swinging also provides some vestibular input which is our sense of movement and helps us develop balance, and eye movement skills. When chosen and enjoyed by the child, all of this carefully calibrated sensory input can contribute to regulation and sense of wellbeing. Important to note that this little one chose this swing and climbed in of her own volition with some help. We NEVER force or push a child to do any activity, and choices are always respected.

Our little visitor is back! 😍

This "flying house" came about due to the innovation and creativity of a 10 year old. While he was supervised and this was facilitated by a therapist, the idea and the plan and the actual execution were all carried out by him. And we ended up with this marvel! I could have intervened and contributed more, but should I have?? No, I don't think so It's important to remember that Therapy is both an art and a science and, when it comes to intervention, sometimes less is more *while you can't see this child, this has been posted with both his and his parent's permission