Eye Contact is a Great Talent

I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity to spend time with Gary each week. When we get to see each other I try to make sure the things we do are beneficial as well as fun for him. These days we are working on Gary’s posture, improving his fine motor skills as well as helping him to make more eye contact/keeping his head up. We try to come up with different activities and games that will encourage him to to achieve those goals. If we use that time doing things that Gary finds fun, it doesn’t seem so much like work (which no one likes, right?!?!?).

One of the activities we like to do together is playing ball, tossing it back and forth. Using an exercise ball is great because it has good bounce but also because of the size, it makes it easier to maneuver. Even an activity as simple as throwing a ball to one another is beneficial. It helps to improve hand-eye coordination, improves reflexes and reaction time, and encourages Gary to look upward so he can catch and throw the ball. And because he enjoys the activity he is more likely to stick with it a little longer than something he might not find as interesting.

While I love all the classes I teach, I really enjoy the one-on-one time I get to spend with our students. I learn so much more about each student during that time. I can tailor that time specifically for each person, depending on their needs, to ensure they work to reach their goals while having fun at the same time.

written by Jennifer Anderson, Yoga Instructor, Dinner & a Movie teacher, Art Therapy teacher, and private lesson instructor. 

Check out more of our talents here.

We wanted to add a fun video, too!

Stewart Home & School is one-of-a-kind community.  Most special education programs end at age 21, and then adult settings focus on vocational options and daily living skills.  Stewart Home & School assigns each person with special needs a special education plan in addition to goals for vocational placement, social maturity growth and daily living skills training.  Working together with the student, his/her family and the school faculty, each plan is implemented on a year-round, three-semester basis and schedules are adjusted as needed.