BCLC – Gavin’s therapy progress with velcro squares

I received permission from Gavin’s OT (Occupational Therapist) at Blind Children’s Learning Center, to document photo/video of his sessions with her. I want to be able to look back at his progress. There are so many times things “click”, and I see it in his expression, I see it in his self confidence. I see it in his sweet smile!

Not only is he making phenomenal progress, he is having fun. His OT, Joan, pushes him, yet respects him. If he says ‘no’, she tries once with him, and then they are all done. Typically the ‘no’ response from him, is because he is uncertain. Usually after she shows him, he enjoys it, and wants to do it again.

I will be posting pictures and video of his his weekly progress. I may be late, because I am just getting to post from his therapy session 2 weeks ago! But I will post about it each week. Ok, fine – I will try my best to post it each week.

This particular session we worked on his midline. Midline basically is the median plane of the body – basically working directly in front of him. Like many blind children, Gavin would throw objects he had in his hands. When he is all done, he throws them to the side/behind him. Getting his two hands to work simultaneously is something we have been working on for a long time. It will increase his strength for good cane use/control, as well as continue to work on the midline.

This particular video shows Gavin working with two velcro squares. To a blind child, the velcro squares really don’t have any meaning. We had tried the squares (along with other pull apart toys) for weeks now. This was the first time, and I have it on video, that he actually worked at trying to pull them apart! He did not get frustrated that the first time attempt was not successful, he continued to try …and we pulled them apart! He took it a step further, and he put the squares together, and pulled them apart again. You can see from our reaction, we were elated. It’s these small things that we work on with him day in and day out, but not in such a way to where it is frustrating for him, or where his self confidence is hindered.

Working on midline, is huge! Until he works more with midline, and using his hands in front of him, we can’t move to him brushing his teeth, feeding himself with a spoon, etc. We are getting there. Baby steps… You can see when he was done, they were thrown to the side – but not until after he pulled them apart.

Stay tuned for more video/photos from his sessions at BCLC.