Alternative Seating | Determining the Need
Points to Consider: Student, Environment, Task & Tool
Student:
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Does your student have low or high muscle tone?
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Does the student tend to be a sensory seeker or sensory avoider?
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Does the student gravitate towards a particular seat, rug, or cushion in the environment?
Environment:
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Are there universal supports available in the environment (program, classroom, building, district) that can first be trialed with the student to determine the need?
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Consult with your school occupational therapist or physical therapist for further guidance.
Task:
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What is the student currently expected to complete in the classroom while seated that they can not currently accomplish?
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What activities are the student more or less engaged with during the day?
Tool:
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Preliminary features to consider when selecting tools: comfort, movement in place, compression, stability, size of student and tool, and arrangement of environment.
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What types of training might be required for this student or team members when determining a tool?
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Trial new tools based on the identification of priority tasks and activities.