Wednesday 24 September 2014

Some Youtube Videos on Dyspraxia

Dyspraxia affects 1 in 10, there is at least 1 student in every classroom with Dyspraxia though most are either misdiagnosed or have no diagnosis at all so are not getting the help they need.
The more people are aware of Dyspraxia than the more people will get the answer to their puzzle and the more kids, teens, adults will get the help they need. 
Apart from Childhood Dyspraxia people can develop Dyspraxia after a stroke or head trauma.
Even if you think you don't know a Dyspraxic the chances are you have at least one if not more in your life and the chance is they may not even know they have it.
Some of the videos I am sharing have some great hints and tips for people with various conditions not just Dyspraxia.
As for myself I was diagnosed with a coordination problem in 1981 at age 5, it was a fluke it was picked up, I saw a Remedial PhysEd Teacher (we now call them a Occupational Therapist) for nearly 2 years, I don't know why Mum stopped taking me and stopped doing my therapy at home but it has had lifelong consequences for me.
We were told it was why I was clumsy and ambidextrous and nothing else.
A few months after losing my Mum I decided after 22yrs as a Carer and still caring for ill relatives I needed to look after me, so I started researching what I was diagnosed with that those I care for aren't diagnosed with (the other conditions those I care for are diagnosed with so I was relatively up on those) and I discovered the term Dyspraxia and started reading about all the other symptoms and discovered so many of the things I did as a child that I would get in trouble for (many I still do) are part of my condition.  Understanding this has helped me like myself a lot more.

I hope people find these useful.

What is Dyspraxia? 
I don't have the articulation issues with speech but I do have issues with speed and volume, I do have most of the other issues they list some just mildly.  I never learned to tie my shoes properly, a student teacher in Grade 2 helped in during recess by teaching me the bunny ears way after a particularly bad event when my teacher ridiculed me in front of her and my class for not being able to tie my shoes.
It is important to note speech issues do not occur in every Dyspraxic and this focus often leads to diagnosis being missed.
Several of my symptoms are cross conditioned so while some symptoms have improved with age, as I have developed strategies for myself but my symptoms that are cross conditioned I have noticed have gotten worse as my EDS3 and Fibromyalgia has gotten worse.

Dypraxia Symptoms & Signs.

Myths of Dyspraxia.

Dyspraxia: James' Story.

Dyspraxia Foundation: Dyspraxia In The Workplace.

Dyspraxia and Me - My Story from Robin.
I can soooo relate to his explaining the issues with coordination of thoughts.

Dyspraxia and Writing.

Now for some tips and hints videos, first 4 are from Diverse Learners.
Eating and Meal Times.
Oh how I can relate to this.  Now at 38 I am much better with my food but I still have my quirks with food.
Cutlery
Sleep Hygiene.
Textures and Temperature when sleeping.

In The Classroom Rulers
In The Classroom Handwriting.
Wii Fit therapy.
Hints with a wobble board to improve handwriting.

I hope this was helpful and I will continue to search for more videos.






Tuesday 23 September 2014

Adapting paperclip packaging to be ziplock pockets for my son's wallet

Mr 7.5 asked for a wallet like Mummy's.
Visiting a local op-shop the other week I spotted rings.  It is not a filofax and has been very well used (has white paint on it, brown is worn severely in places, tarnish on ring mechanism, etc) but it was a 6 ring pocket sized binder.
I had 2 of the larger ziplock packaging for large paperclips from Big W (this size is slightly too large, the shaped clip size is much better but it is workable), and since he wanted his wallet to be just like Mummy's and mummy has 3 ziplock packaging conversions I set to work.
The plastic is too thick for a normal hole punch or my Rapesco, previously when I made mine I did not have a Crop-a-dile, despite having one now I didn't think to try it so did what I did last time, but due to the overhang I may try the Crop-a-dile and remove my taped extention for holes.
First I trimmed off a excess bit of plastic that sat near the opening and covered the edge with some tape.
The I cut some tape and put in on as shown in the below pic.


Then I added a second piece of tape again half on, half off, and a second layer over the piece near the ziplock that wrapped right around, to neaten it up and provide extra protection from the sharp edge.


Then I put on a third layer for extra security for the first 2.



Then I added a layer directly over the layer that would be punched (sorry took pics as I worked on both some some photos have the top at different stages).
Hole punched with my Rapesco.


 Now time for hole reinforcers, I put one on each side of each hole.





Just a little too wide.







I hope this has helped those wanting to adapt packaging that don't have a Crop-a-Dile or some other super strong punch.