Suggestions to add to my daughter's therapy gym?

Question

I am making my daughter a gym in the basement to do therapy in. Here are her diagnosises. Obsessive compulsive dissorder, Sensory integration Dissorder, Pervasive developemental dissorder or Atypical Autism, Fine motor dyspraxia, and Impulse control dissorder. She gets therapy 2 times per month through Easter Seals, but they told me she needs home therapy every 2-4 hours. So I am converting my entire basement into a therapy gym. Here's what I have so far, a 38 inch trampoline, a 10 foot ball pit, a rock wall, a typipcal playground swing, about 100 sq. feet of foam mats, and a slide. I have a peg board wall piece that I would like to make into a sensory wall. I am on a very small budget so can anyone suggest some things to add to the room or to the sensory wall that would be inexpensive but effective? My budget is aproximately 600.00 and I have thus far spent about 350.00. Any help would be greatly appreciated! I am really really at a loss for the sensory wall btw.

Answer 1

a scooter maybe a skateboard would work and have her pull a weighted item therapist call it "hotdogs"  they are long and heavy to the child...  you could prob make one of these fairly cheap.. for the sensory wall go to like lowes and get samples of thier carpet and certian tiles. carpets feel differant...  peices of fabric (silk, jersey),cotton, plastic, metal also maybe smooth aluminum, paper some dont like this feeling (spec the paper around crayons) and get some handles like the ones for kitchen cab and dressers they come differantly textures .  use some xmas lights also the ones that change colors slowly or to the ryhtem of music. make sure they are slow changing ones. This may sound weird but make a little balance board like 4" off the ground 2 boards at first but paint them in likes colors that are blocks. This will help them learn balance and to control impulsiveness. You can also call out get on blue or whatever colors you choose. maybe even paint a prize one that when you call it she gets a treat for listining. for a swing if you can get the ones therapist use they prob can be made out of plywood and rope. they are square and allow room for the children to lie down or criss cross on them. they have 4 ropes one on each corner that meet at the top of the ceiling. this helps with balance.  And make a small spot maybe get a plastic sled and some shaving cream that they can spray and write in... thats all I can think of right now I hope these work

Answer 2

A unicycle?

  It isn't a gym thing, but it is great for balance. Check them out on www.unicycle.com and wwwunicyclist.org . They are less dangerous than skateboards and bicycles.

Answer 3

I would recommend a hammock swing of some sort which would provide both vestibular stimulation and the deep pressure of being wrapped.

Answer 4

I think her therapist could answer that, so it could really be geared just for your daughter's best interest.

FlagHouse.com

has all kinds of things for Special Populations.

That might give you some ideas.