School of Occupational Therapy
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/11274/9555
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Browsing School of Occupational Therapy by Author "Blake, Amanda B."
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Item Can sensory gallery guides for children with sensory processing challenges improve their museum experience?(Taylor & Francis, 2018-01-26) Fletcher, Tina; Blake, Amanda B.; Shelffo, Kathleen E.Children routinely visit art museums as part of their educational experience and family time, many of them having special needs. The number of children diagnosed with autism and sensory processing disorders is increasing. These conditions may include heightened sensory avoiding or seeking behaviors that can interfere with a child’s ability to benefit from museum visits. Environmental modifications and sensory-based treatments are commonly used to support children with sensory processing disorders, but museum environments or programs cannot always lend themselves to being altered to provide optimal results. This research explored whether museum gallery guides for sensory avoiders and seekers could be utilized with children with sensory sensitivities to help them prepare for and participate in museum experiences. Results showed combining both sensory avoiding and seeking gallery guides into one sensory friendly gallery guide can have a positive impact on a child’s museum experience. To achieve success, sensory gallery guides must be developmentally appropriate, provide structure for a gallery visit, facilitate active thinking, looking, and discussion, and showcase interesting gallery spaces providing a variety of sensory-rich objects.Item Fine arts museums and occupational therapy collaborations promote inclusion for children with autism spectrum disorder(University of Oregon, 2018-05-25) Fletcher, Tina; Eckberg, Jon; Blake, Amanda B.This program description details an ongoing collaboration between Texas Woman’s University (TWU) master of occupational therapy students and the Dallas Museum of Art’s (DMA) Autism Awareness Family Celebrations (AAFC), which provides inclusive museum visits for children with autism spectrum disorder. These young visitors and their families participate in programs that interconnect opportunities to view and learn about art, engage in creative expression, and participate in a novel community event. During these events, TWU students create a sensory haven and provide activities that enable children to more fully experience the art museum while also managing the behavioral, communication, and social challenges they often experience during community outings. Students also provide parents with relevant information about autism spectrum disorder and with opportunities to connect with others. In conjunction with these events, students and faculty conduct research, make evidence-based program planning recommendations, and provide museum staff with educational supports relevant to their participation planning goals.