Useful Links and Resources
Useful Support Networks and Information Sites
The following are a number of key information sites and information sources;
- http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions
- https://dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk
- http://www.autism.org.uk
- http://out-of-sync-child.com
- http://www.capability-scotland.org.uk
- http://www.bordersadditionalneeds.org
Equipment and suppliers
Should equipment be suggested for a child - please find a list of suppliers of some of the most commonly used items, for your information. Should you be trying to purchase a specific item and you are unable to source it - please contact one of the Occupational Therapists and they may be able to assist.
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Equipment |
Supplier
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Comments |
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Move ‘n’ sit Cushion
(Junior size for P1 and P2. Senior size for P3 onwards) |
Tel:020 7930 8309
The Whistling Tortoise 42a Hamilton Place Stockbridge Edinburgh EH3 5AX Tel: 0131 225 6365
Physio Room Unit 1 &2 Dawson Court Billington Road Burnley BB11 5UB
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Used for children who have difficulty with modulating sensory input. It is an air-filled, wedge shaped cushion and allows the child to gain sensory input, which they may require in order to engage in classroom activities. |
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Dyn-air cushion |
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As above, but disc shaped.
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Sit ‘n’gym balls |
Rompa Goyt Side Road Chesterfield Derbyshire S40 2PH
Tel: 01242 211777
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Reasons for use as above. Physio/gym ball with feet for stability. |
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Angled writing board |
Posturite The Mill Berwick East Sussex BN26 6SZ Tel: 0845 345 0010
Special Direct ParkLaneBusinessPark Kirby-in-Ashby Nottingham NG17 9GU Tel: 0800 1381370 (also supply teenage board to go on an arch lever folder)
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Used to improve posture, hand and arm position, and visual motor integration skills while writing |
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Dycem non-slip materials |
Rompa (address as above) Tel: 01242 211777
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Non-slip matting useful for placing onto surfaces to help children who have difficulty stabilising objects/books.
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Scissors |
Rompa (address as above) Tel: 01242 211777 Or Peta UK Ltd Mark’s Hall Mark’s Hall Lane Margaret Roding Dunmow CM6 1QT Tel: (01245) 231118 or
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A variety of types of scissors are available to help children who have difficulty with scissor skills. OT will recommend appropriate type. Also left handed scissors available. |
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Pencil grips |
Crossbow Education Tollgate Court Business Centre Brockton Stafford ST16 3HS 0845 2697272 or or or or
Fledglings Wenden Court Station Approach Wendens Ambo Saffron Waldon CB11 4LB 01799 541807
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A variety of different types of grips available. OT will recommend appropriate type. Useful for children with handwriting difficulties. |
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Reading rulers and Eye Level reading rulers |
or or or
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Used for children who have difficulties filtering out unwanted visual input while reading i.e. other words on the page. |
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Therapeutic putty (4 different strengths) |
or or
Fledglings 01799 541807
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Used for improving fine motor skills by giving hands a lot of sensory input through its resistance. Can be used to build up muscle tone for those with low tone. Useful for improving manual dexterity/finger isolation skills. |
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TheraBand |
or or
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Can be used in activities to build up muscle tone and to improve body awareness. Also used in a variety of ways to increase the level of sensory input for a child. OT will recommend appropriate use.
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Chew strips / bands Chewy Tubes Chewlery Necklace and Bracelet |
or or or
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For children who crave oral sensory stimulation. Providing something acceptable for the child to chew on may improve their ability to attend to classroom tasks. Also useful for those who have limited oral sensory awareness.
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Left handed equipment eg scissors, sharpeners, rulers, pens etc |
Anything Left Handed Po Box 46 Witney OX29 7HD
Tel: 0845 872 3272
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Equipment that is designed to enable and assist left handed children to carry out functional tasks. |
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Yoropens/pencil |
W H Smiths, stationers or or or
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The angle of the pen/pencil ensures that the child can clearly see what they have written as their hand does not obstruct their field of vision. Particularly useful for left handed children, but can also be used by right-handed children/adults. |
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Fidget/fiddle toys e.g. sensory balls, bean bags, squeezes |
Rompa (address as above) or or or
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Pocket/desk top sized tactile toys. Useful for children who are seeking extra sensory (tactile) input. Allowing the child to touch/fiddle with something may help improve their level of attention and therefore enable them to better engage in classroom activities
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Wobble boards |
or or
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Used to develop and improve posture and balance reactions. |
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Tactile lined paper |
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Used to give a coloured and touch cue to assist when children are experiencing handwriting difficulties. |
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Vibrating toys |
Rompa (address as above)
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Vibration can be used to have an alerting or calming effect for children with sensory processing difficulties
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Caring Cutlery Adult or Junior sizes |
Complete Care Shop Unit 1a, Brook Mill Estate Station Road Wrea Green Lancashire PR4 2PH Tel: 0845 5194 734
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Moulded cutlery with guides to encourage the correct grip. Useful for children with low muscle tone, hyper-mobile joints, or motor planning difficulties |
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Beanbags
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Fledglings 01799 541807
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Sand Egg Timers |
or or
Fledglings 01799 541807
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Useful to help children to develop a sense of time and also to encourage them to stay focused on an activity. Helps to define the beginning and the end of an activity and gives the child a visual representation of this. Available in 30 seconds, 1, 3, 5, 10, 15 and 30 minutes. |
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Time Tracker |
or
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Battery operated countdown timer in the style of a traffic light. Lights change from green-amber-red as the clock counts down. The timer can be programmed for any amount of time. Useful for children who have a limited awareness of time and/or poor time management skills.
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Privacy Board |
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A privacy board is a screen that stands on the desk around the child’s work area. The purpose is to cordon off the child’s individual work space and eliminate irrelevant visual stimuli. To be used for short periods of focused individual task work to promote on-task behaviour and help the child to maintain a sense of organisation and control.
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Sitness 5 Gym Ball Chair |
tel: 02079 308309 |
Gym ball on a frame covered in hard wearing mesh fabric. Ideal for encouraging good sitting posture and strengthening the back.
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Tom Tags |
Fledglings 01799 541807 |
A visual checklist system designed to support an individual’s communication, language development and the ability to process information or as a checklist of items to remember. Great for those who experience problems with memory or organisation. |
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