Children on the autism spectrum have high rates of visual and visual perceptual problems that interfere with learning. Some impairments such as decreased visual acuity may be corrected by eye glasses. However, many of these children have difficulties with visual efficiency that make it difficult to fixate on objects, visually track moving objects and use visual convergence or divergence to follow objects moving toward and away from their eyes. Occupational therapists often treat these types of visual challenges with simple gross motor games and activities. The following activities also promote visual accommodation to focus on objects located at different distances, figure-ground, visual closure and directionality concepts such as right and left.
Trampoline Activities
Jumping on a trampoline provides intense stimulation to the inner ears (the vestibular sense organs) muscles and joints. While using a small trampoline surrounded by cushions for safety- ask the child to swat bubbles, catch and throw a ball and name either letters or words on flash cards. Position the cards in varied locations so the child needs to use her entire visual field including the periphery. A teacher or occupational therapist can also present the cards at varying distances to work on accommodation skills.
"Accommodation" is the ability to focus on targets that are located at different distances-- ranging from near to far. Adapting the letter or word cards in the following ways may also help improve visual perceptual skills-the brain's interpretation of visual information:
• Present the same letter or word but vary the size and/or color of the letters
• Create a slightly busy background on the card to promote figure-ground discrimination.
• Present cards with pictures or shapes with small parts missing and ask the child to identify them. This works on visual closure discrimination
Balance Beam Activities
Walking across a balance beam lends itself to developing many visual skills. Using a wide foam balance beam will make the following activities easier and more successful. Also, consider having the child do these activities while wearing a weighted vest, ankle or wrist weights to increase body awareness. Some children will want to look down at their feet to compensate for decreased body awareness and motor planning skills. However, adding a visual component will discourage this and promote balance and coordination. As the child walks-ask him to stop as you hand him a bean bag in the right hand to toss into a box positioned on the student's left. Reverse so that the student tosses from left to right. Some children may be able to toss the bean bags while walking or bend over to pickup bean bags placed on the beam in front of them. Other possible activities to do while on the balance beam include:
• Imitating the teacher or therapist to touch a named right or left foot
• Walking across the beam while tossing a ball to herself
• Reading letter or word flash card- while maintaining balance on the beam.
The Flying Foot ball Game
This is a game that is sold commercially with the names "Zoom ball" and 'Forward Pass". Two children play this game together by grasping two handles on the end of a long cord. As they pull the handles apart a foot ball shaped object zooms across. This activity forces the children to coordinate using both hands together. They use visual convergence as the object travels toward them and divergence as the ball shoots away. The commercially available game comes with very long cords that can be shortened to make the game easier and suitable for young children (4-5 years of age). You can also make your own version by following the steps below.
• Cut four plastic handles from four detergent or dishwasher soap bottles.
• Cut away the bottoms of two soda bottles and insert one inside the other as shown in the photo below. Tape in place. This will now be called the "foot ball".
• Insert two strands of nylon cord through the foot ball.
• Attach the ends of the cord to the bottle handles by cutting holes in them, tying the cord in place and securing with duct tape.
Show the children how to alternate handles apart and handles together to make the "football" travel back and forth. This activity develops rhythm as
well as eye-hand coordination.
By: Barbara Smith
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