Tina Fletcher

Reliability of the Participation and Sensory Environment Questionnaire: Teacher Version

The Participation and Sensory Environment Questionnaire—Teacher Version (PSEQ-TV) is a teacher-report questionnaire to assess the impact of the sensory environment on participation of preschool children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Many children with ASD have sensory processing differences, although these differences are frequently examined from the standpoint of the person. The PSEQ-TV provides a single assessment to examine both participation and the sensory environment for preschool aged children with ASD. This study established the reliability of the PSEQ-TV including internal consistency of 0.98 and test-rest reliability of 0.70. The results indicate initial reliability of PSEQ-TV as an instrument that can be used to identify sensory environmental barriers within the preschool setting to target during interventions to increase participation.

Exploring How Live Theaters Promote Participation for Children with Special Needs

ABSTRACT Aim: Increasing usage of cultural arts venues by children with special needs has created a need to optimize participation planning. A team of three occupational therapy graduate students and one faculty researcher was invited to provide a local childrens theater staff with training for supporting children with special needs. The team aimed to determine how their collaboration with the theater could contribute to understandings of best practices in community participation planning. Method: The team participated in theater events, conducted a facility assessment, interviewed staff members with varying role responsibilities, and surveyed staff before and after conducting a participation-planning workshop. Results: The collaborative approach to participation planning utilized strategies that provided practical applications for theater staff, including planning for sensory processing and regulation challenges, and providing staff with behavior management and communication tips for interacting with children. Conclusion: Through training, staff participation planning evolved from reacting to present-day problems to proactively planning for future initiatives. Staff expressed desires to have some of their own members become in-house experts for participation planning, allowing others to pursue the theaters mission: providing live childrens theater performances and programs.

Art Making and Identity Formation in Children and Adolescents with Differing Social Behaviors

ABSTRACT Not everyone develops social behaviors and interaction skills in an expected manner. This study explored the relationship between art making and identity formation in children and adolescents who were identified as having differing social behaviors. In three small group settings, 17 participants created abstract self-portraits from modeling compound and responded to questions about their self, self-concept, and self-esteem. From this, a model was created to describe identity formation as it relates to the relationships between social environment, desired occupations and activities, and creativity. Practice guidelines are proposed for those who provide children and adolescents with opportunities to make art as part of sessions aimed to promote the development of a healthy self-concept.

Construct Validity of the Participation and Sensory Environment Questionnaire–Teacher Version:

The Participation and Sensory Environment Questionnaire–Teacher Version (PSEQ-TV) is a teacher report questionnaire designed to examine the impact of the sensory environment on participation for preschool children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study examines the construct validity of the assessment through principal components analysis (PCA). One hundred three preschool teachers completed the research version of the PSEQ-TV. Component analysis revealed six factors: modification, support, preschool tasks, group routines, mealtime, and tactile. This study provides evidence as to the construct validity of the PSEQ-TV. The PSEQ-TV can be used to identify sensory-related environmental barriers within the preschool environment. By identifying these barriers, teachers and other support staff can modify the environment and/or provide support to increase participation of preschool children with ASD across school environments.

Does handwriting instruction have a place in the instructional day? The relationship between handwriting quality and academic success

Abstract Handwriting is a foundational skill needed by students to demonstrate competency in reading, writing, and math. Occupational therapists who work in schools are tasked with providing remedial services for students who demonstrate deficits in underlying handwriting mechanics, as opposed to deficits in following handwriting conventions. Despite this, therapists frequently find the referred student has none of the expected mechanical constraints, but instead lacks knowledge of letter, number, and punctuation mark formation. This is often an outcome of not being exposed to explicit handwriting instruction. As a result, the researchers sought to determine whether a relationship exists between academic success in reading, writing, and math and the quality of handwriting by comparing standards-based report card grades in reading, writing, and math to scores from the Handwriting Without Tears Screener of Handwriting Proficiency. Results indicated a significant positive correlation exists between academic success in writing and reading and quality of handwriting. The implications of this research suggest there is a further need to explore whether instructional time should be allocated for handwriting instruction in the classroom, potentially contributing to increased academic success for students.

Factors that bring meaning to mementos created by elders.

ABSTRACT Objectives: Reminiscing activity groups are commonly seen in various elder care settings This study addresses the impact of reminiscence activity groups, specifically a program where group members create their own mementos, on healthy Jewish elders’ sense of satisfaction and meaning. In particular, this research focused on the specific factors involved in creating the mementos themselves. Method: In this mixed methods study, occupational therapy graduate students synthesized relevant aspects of commonly used activity analysis forms into a matrix to analyze the activities. From a pool of 30 activities, students chose seven representing many factors and levels of complexity. With a matrix composed of a Likert scale and open-ended questions, students and Jewish elders explored the elders’ perceptions of factors significantly related to their experiences when creating the seven mementos. Results: Memento-making was most satisfying when elders were replicated in some way, such as with hand casting. Least satisfying activities were those that could lead to talents being appraised, such as painted self-portraits. Unanticipated factors such as social participation and educating others appeared to be as important as making the mementos themselves. Conclusion: While the research questions were partially answered, factors such as meaning and creativity were difficult constructs to measure because they lacked clear definitions. However, this preliminary exploration supports the concept that the use of an activity analysis matrix can enable activities directors and occupational therapists to systematically ascertain which factors positively impact well-being and social participation to meet the unique needs of aging client populations.

Literacy and Graphic Communication Getting the Words Out

Although it may seem logical to assume that giftedness automatically equates with high academic achievement, research has shown that assumption is not always true especially in areas that deal with the communication of understanding and knowledge of a subject. If problems occur in graphic output venues that include handwriting, intervention programs do not typically meet the unique needs of the gifted learner. Therefore, this article explores ways to enhance the total literacy development of the gifted student through a discussion of varieties of graphic outputs and strategies.