Past projects 13
Make Learning "Sense"-Ational! Specialized Sensory Equipment Needed
Funded Jan 17, 2017Thank you so much for the kind donations to the therapy room at our school. The sensory tools that you helped fund have made a big difference in the ability of my students to engage in learning.
Some of my students use the chewy tubes daily, chewing on the therapeutic tool in order to receive the oral input they seek in order to concentrate (sort of how chewing gum probably helps you focus!). Other students are using the weighted lap pads with fidgets on their laps in class in order to help keep their bodies calm and focused.
I can't wait to see these strategies and tools continue to make a difference in my students lives! Thank you again from the bottom of my heart.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Reich-Staniulis
Help Create an OT Lending Library for Our Classrooms!
Funded Mar 9, 2016Dear generous donors,
Our intention for this project was to create a "lending library" of some simple but very useful sensory equipment that could be distributed to our classrooms. The equipment could be used with either one student, a few specific students or the whole class depending on the need.
We have kids who need to get a lot of movement in each day in order to learn. Many of them need to be moving and have an engaged body even WHILE they are learning, so we got them wiggle chairs and air cushions to sit on! Some of our kids have a hard time filtering out all the extra noises in a classroom and school which makes it hard for them to calmly pay attention to the most important information. Some of them also get really overwhelmed and upset when the noise in their environment is too much, so we got them noise reducing headphones!
When our kids saw all the new wiggle chairs, headphones and cushions they were psyched! Until now, our kids knew that we didn't have enough special chairs or headphones to give out to the classrooms, but now we do! We talked to the teaching staff about our new equipment and they were REALLY excited to try out the equipment with some of their kids. So far we have almost all the equipment distributed to classrooms and are keeping track of how it is helping our kids. When a teacher feels like the equipment isn't necessary anymore, we sign it back into the library so others can use it. It is great!
Going forward, we are going to think about what other pieces of equipment are simple and useful to integrate into our classrooms and help with making the learning environment better for all of our kids.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Reich-Staniulis
OT Supplies to Help Students Succeed!
Funded Oct 15, 2015Thank you so much for your generous donation to help provide students with the tools they need to succeed in Occupational Therapy! We have been using all of the great toys and games to help them learn the skills that they need, and each child has made wonderful progress towards reaching their goals.
My younger students, as well as older students whose delays are more significant, work on their play skills while also receiving sensory input from the kinetic sand. Higher functioning students have been using the putty to strengthen their hands, going on "treasure hunts" to find beads hidden within the putty. The Monkey Tree game is a big hit, and is incorporated into obstacle courses, peer play in group sessions, and pretend play activities. One child loves the monkeys so much that he tried to bring a few home with him for the weekend!
I can't wait to see how the materials that you have provided will continue to help my students grow, and I am so thankful for the impact you have made on the development of these children. As one of my eighth graders exclaimed after I explained where our new materials came from: "WOW! THOSE ARE SOME REALLY NICE PEOPLE!"”
With gratitude,
Ms. Reich-Staniulis