Tag Archives: occupational therapy (OT) tools

Occupational therapy (OT) tools include equipment and materials used to support sensory integration, motor skills, coordination, and functional independence in children.

The Peabody Developmental Motor Scales Test

Assessments, Fine Motor & Hand Skill Development, Motor & Movement, , ,

The Peabody Developmental Motor Scales Test-Second Edition (PDMS-2) examines both gross motor and fine motor skills. This test is for children from birth through age 5. The evaluation assesses a child’s development, and also provides training and treatment to improve motor skills. The assessment generally lasts about 45-60 minutes, and provides an in-depth analysis. The Second Edition has been in use since 2000 and is a statistically reliable and valid norm-referenced assessment.

The Peabody Developmental Motor Scales (PDMS-2)When you order the PDMS-2 COMPLETE Kit, you’ll receive an Examiner’s Manual, a Guide to Item Administration, a Picture Book, 25 Profile/Summary Forms, 25 Examiner Record Booklets, the Motor Activities Program Manual and a Peabody Motor Developmental Chart. The PDMS-2 is also offered without the Motor Activities Program Manual (PDMS-2 TEST Kit).

You will also receive the Object Kit and the Shape Cards Kit which both contain sets of test objects to help achieve a standardized administration of the test; the Object Kit includes a black shoelace, six square beads, a wooden pegboard, three wooden pegs, 12 one-inch cubes, a large button strip, a bottle with a cap, a formboard with shapes, a lacing card, a measuring tape, and a roll of masking tape. The Shape Cards Kit includes blackline masters and three shape cards.

The test scores consist of a Gross Motor Quotient, a Fine Motor Quotient, and a Total Quotient. The Gross Motor Quotient is made up of the Reflexes, Stationary, Locomotion, and Object Manipulation subtests. The Fine Motor Quotient includes the Grasping and Visual-Motor Integration subtests. Lastly, the Total Quotient combines both the Gross and Fine Motor subtests.

To reduce scoring and reporting time and errors, the new PDMS-2 Online Scoring and Reporting System has been developed and is purchased separately. It is web-based software that is PC, Mac and iPad compatible. Some of the software Scoring features include:

  • converting PDMS-2 item scores or subtest scores into standard scores, percentile ranks, and age equivalents
  • generating composite quotients
  • comparing PDMS-2 subtest and composite performance to identify significant intra-individual differences

The software Reporting features also include:

  • a printed report of the student’s identifying information and PDMS-2 performance including short-term and long-term treatment goals and objectives
  • score and print reports using as few as one subtest score or only Gross or only Fine Motor scores
  • save or print text or PDF file using two report options:
    • standard clinical report (2 page summary of test scores)
    • detailed clinical report (fully customized 6- to 8- page analysis indicating treatment goals and objectives

Additional features of this web-based software include:

  • pull-down menus to easily navigate among software functions
    fields for storing detailed examiner and testing information
    on-screen subtest and quotient comparisons

A first-time base subscription provides an entire year of unlimited online scoring and report access for up to five users.

Back-to-School Readiness for Classrooms

School-Based Practice, Sensory, Therapist Resources, , ,

Throughout the summer, we ensure that our children have all the supplies they need. We worry about their transitions from one grade to another, but as therapists and educators, are we back to school ready? I have created a small list of products that every special educator and therapist should have in their arsenal of education. Most of these items are small and easy to transport from classroom to classroom or school to school.

Here is a list of 15 items you need to start the year off right.

Educational Needs – The products below are perfect for the learning needs of all!

  1. Highlighter Strips are great for visual learners. An ideal tool for those with reading and visual processing difficulties. Brightens any written word. The plastic strips can be placed over any written material and used over and over again.
  2. NOVENOPs! is a hilarious game that teaches sentence structure! A card game for children of ages 6 and up. This game helps develop the player’s ability to understand the basic elements of grammar.
  3. Letter Treasure Hunt is a Pirate adventure with a handwriting twist! A board game with a handwriting component and the pirate theme makes it tons of fun.
  4. Trunks is a game where players move their bodies, make sounds and perform actions from memory!

Handwriting – Slant Boards, Paper & Grips, Oh My! Everything you need for working on handwriting skills, you will find here!

  1. Better Board Slant Boards are made for traveling (from home to school, class to class, etc.) and can easily be stacked and stored in a classroom.
  2. Raised Line Writing Paper is perfect for teaching line orientation, and cueing correct letter and word spacing. Graph spacing is also used for teaching numeracy and basic addition and subtraction.
  3. Pencil Grip Samplers let your students experiment and find their most comfortable writing tools.
  4. Highlighter Paper features a highlighted lower writing area and solid lines. Because the paper is visually simplified letters can be formed and spaced correctly.

Organization – An organized classroom helps with transitioning from class to class or task to task.

  1. Time Timers allow students to understand the passage of time so they can monitor their own activities. Better time awareness also relieves stress and anxiety.
  2. Seat Sacks are a great way for students to quickly gather supplies on a moment’s notice.
  3. Talk Bar is a customizable, versatile communicator that helps students visually display and describe a sequence of events.

Sensory Needs – Don’t forget about your students’ sensory needs; make sure you have all these sensational supplies in your classroom.

  1. Sensory Stories Cards are visual reminders of the various strategies that children can employ to cope with unpleasant sensations in daily life.
  2. Fidget Kit includes a group of the most popular fidgets.
  3. Seating Cushions help promote “active sitting”. Perfect for strengthening the muscles that support the spine and to use when sensory input is needed.
  4. Sensational Fun Cards have over 100 activities for parents and teachers who are looking for some great sensory games using common objects found in the home and school.
Sensational Fun a must have tool for back to school readiness
Sensational Fun
Therapro's Sensory Story Cards a must have tool for back to school readiness
Sensory Stories
Gymnic Disc 'O' Sit: Blue
Gymnic Disc ‘O’ Sit

Guest Blogger: Diana V. Mendez-Hohmann BA, COTA

Praxis Disorders and Intervention Strategies: Seminar Recap

Events & Conferences, Motor & Movement, Sensory, , , ,

A new season of Therapro’s Saturday Seminar Series is off and running—and it started strong! On Saturday, August 23rd, Teresa May-Benson, ScD, OTR/L, an esteemed occupational therapist, educator, author, and researcher, presented an in-depth session titled “Praxis Disorders and Intervention.”

Dr. May-Benson currently serves as the Executive Director of the SPIRAL Foundation (Sensory Processing Institute for Research and Learning), a nonprofit dedicated to advancing knowledge in the field of sensory integration and praxis. Her presentation offered attendees a compelling and informative overview of this complex area of practice. The seminar felt like a “fall tune-up,” preparing therapists and educators to reengage with the foundational concepts of praxis just as the academic year gets underway.

During the seminar, Dr. May-Benson clearly and succinctly reviewed the primary components of praxis, describing it as a multifaceted process involving a sequence of sub-processes—each engaging various parts of the brain. She explained how praxis dysfunction impacts ideation, motor planning, sequencing, and execution, and emphasized the importance of identifying these breakdowns in order to provide effective intervention.

In addition to outlining clinical signs and observable behaviors associated with praxis challenges, she presented a toolbox of intervention strategies designed to be immediately applicable across home, school, and clinical environments. A major emphasis was placed on child-directed activity, which she identified as a critical component of successful intervention. According to Dr. May-Benson, when children are not invested in the therapeutic activity, the session loses meaning—and with it, motivation and therapeutic effectiveness. Her approach reinforced the importance of aligning goals and activities with a child’s interests to promote engagement and motor planning success.

The seminar drew a diverse group of attendees, including occupational therapists, educators, parents, and even a grandparent. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Participants appreciated the balance of theory and practical strategies, as well as Dr. May-Benson’s ability to make such a nuanced topic accessible and actionable.

Therapro was proud to host this outstanding presentation and extends its sincere thanks to Dr. May-Benson for sharing her time and expertise. Her passion for the field of occupational therapy and deep understanding of praxis intervention left a lasting impression on all in attendance.

Check out  these reviews:

“Very informative. A lot of information presented in thoughtful manner.”

“Good information and gave me a better understanding of praxis disorders”

“Information was broken down in a very clear & helpful way.”

“Great information – helpful to get fuller picture of components of praxis & great ideas for interventions.”

Thank you, Teresa!

Filomena Connor, MS, OTR/L

August 23, 2014