Our new therapy program : Sensory Enrichment Therapy - MendAbility

This week, Lucas has started a new therapy program called Sensory Enrichment Therapy from a company called MendAbility (Mendability.com).  It is a parent run program that uses innovative ways of tactile and sensory stimulation to reduce autistic features.  It was pioneered through clinical trials at UC Irvine by Dr. Leone and a parent group started a company called MendAbility to expand access to other parents.  I pay a monthly fee of $69 for access to activities that changes every two weeks and the website for feedback. This week, Lucas has been smelling various scents (vanilla, lemon, cinnamon) while receiving tactile stimulation (rubbing of back and feet).  The research finding showed that activating the olfactory sense with tactile stimulation activates the brain much more than just tactile or olfactory stimulation alone.  Lucas seems to tolerate it okay, although as a two year old, he will not sit still for a long time to savor a scent and I end up chasing him around with something in front of his nose while at the same time attempting to scratch his back in "8 formation" - a funny sight.  Actually, he initially tried to eat whatever I put in front thinking it was some sort of snack but lately, we noticed him taking nice long whiffs!  Progress.  He also listens to classical music and seems to like it (unlike myself)and he gets spritz of mint ginger spray on his pillow at night while I massage his feet and legs with kukui nut oil.  Lucky little fellow...This method jives very nicely to the brain plasticity theory and the Anat Baniel Method which we had to stop due to it being not affordable for our budget.  There is no therapist fee since I will be doing all the activities with Lucas and the materials in MendAbility all seem easy to get and a parent said she got most of her supplies at the 99 cent store so I am hopeful this will not break bank. I even made a printout of the two weeks activities and shared it with our ABA therapist, Carol, who seems on board in incorporating the activities during ABA sessions.

According to Gabriel, Lucas took 15 laps around his physical therapy room today!  Just two days ago, he was only able to do 4 laps.  It's amazing how fast he is making progress especially in gross motor skills.  By far, PT is the only therapy where he seems to be doing well. Perhaps, it has something to do with making Lucas use his walker everywhere we go and attempting to wean him off his stroller.  He must "walk" to school, mall, therapy sessions.. It takes just three times longer to get to our destination and does a number on my back but it has been worth it to see him progress so much.  Recently, I solicited first year graduate engineering students at Cal State LA to attach a long pole on the walker so I am not stooping so low all the time.  They researched the company that makes the walker and found out that they sell a bar for $120.  When Kaiser said they will not pay for the bar, I went to Home Depot and got two wooden poles and 6 clamps and voila I have saved myself $110 and my back is saved!
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Our speech therapist said that if Lucas does not meet certain goals laid out by the insurance company, then he will get dropped by the end of the year and Regional Center will have to take over in providing speech therapy. This makes no sense to me.  If a child is not progressing well in a certain area, wouldn't it make sense to continue that service until he does rather than just drop him?  We shall see what happens come 2014 which is only a month and a half away.

All other therapies-OT, ABA, ST seem to be the same to me.  Maybe it's because I don't have a professional eye for discerning the difference but I am wondering if they could be doing more, especially during ABA.  I don't see anything being done that is in line with Pavlov's method of positive reinforcement.  As I see it, there is no "carrot dangling in front of him" as reward.  But then again, he is only two so you can't do too much.

He still has a fascination for water.  The first thing he does now when we get to the classroom at the Centro is make a bee line for the sink and crawls right to it.  He is more aware and sharper than I think I give him credit...Gabriel said he does the same thing at the children's playroom at church.. He knows the sound of running water and will go toward it with great focus. And, as soon as we turn the water off after washing his hands, he throws a little tantrum with his hands flailing up and down while crying.  It is sooo cute to see him throw his tantrum..it's just delicious :).

Lucas likes bubbles, too.