Parents with special needs kids

**angelbumpkin** · 09-10-2008, 11:10 AM

I know I am not the only parent here with specal needs kids. I was wondering if anyone makes some of their own therpy equipment. I know equipment is expensive and many things can be made for alot less money then in catalogs.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 09-10-2008, 01:57 PM

We use these brush things to help with overstimulation. DS has sort of weaned his way out of needing them, though. They were using headphones with him to cut out an overabundance of noise and they're just like the headphones you wear when you use a chainsaw, etc. He was also using a weighted vest that simply had the same material in it that you get in a hackey sack. It was sort of like sand. I imagine if you take a floaty vest like you wear when you're on a boat, remove the hard material on the inside and re-sew it up with something soft and heavy in it (like sand), it would work. You can also laminate stuff at home using plastic sheet covering and tape if you need to make a binder with things in it.

That's at least what we use for DS' autism.

toile · 09-10-2008, 02:05 PM

Gosh its been years ago but we used to do "spinning" in a regular office chair LOL.

Working in schools and as a past parent advocate, I have seen schools do neat stuff like jackets with hidden weights in them.
Or tunnels the kids could sort of squeeze theirselves through.

Im out of the loop and cant add anything but wow what a great post!
I bet it will help people, especially ones new to SI.

**angelbumpkin** · 09-10-2008, 03:39 PM

My son uses a weighted pencil for school. The catalog cost is $15 for 3. I bought 3 longer nuts and pack of rubber o rings for less than $3 lowes. We took a used vest someone gave us add a few extra pockets is put our rice or bean bags in for weight. Just a few things I've done.