Browsing by Author "Haar, Sherry J."

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    The Design of a Therapy Garment for Preschool Children with Sensory Integration Dysfunction
    Haar, Sherry J. (Virginia Tech, 1998-12-17)
    A design process developed by Joann Boles was used to develop a therapy garment for three four-year-old boys with sensory integrative dysfunction who participated in occupational therapy using sensory integrative methods. The design process framework has four stages: (a) problem development, (b) needs assessment, (c) prototype development, and (d) evaluation. The problem was developed by observing children with sensory impairments; interviewing parents and professionals involved with sensory impairments; experiencing sensory integrative methods; and reviewing the literature.The needs were assessed for the wearers, the activity, and the environment through four weeks of observations, interviews with the child and significant others, and document reviews. The research design was multiple case studies. The data collection and analyses followed the grounded theory procedures of open and axial coding outlined by Strauss and Corbin (1990).The resulting needs of the wearers, the activities, and the environment were translated into garment specifications and criteria. The four garment specification categories were (a) movement, (b) sensory integration, (c) motor development, and (d) play.Prototypes were generated to meet garment specifications in terms of structure, materials, and assembly. The process included writing ideas, coding and combining ideas, sketching ideas, constructing samples, and constructing a prototype solution. The resulting prototype consisted of a sleeveless pullover top, cape, and weights, and featured a bug superhero theme.The prototype was evaluated against garment specification criteria through observations, interviews, and an evaluation form. The prototype allowed full body movement and provided safety features for full interaction in the environment. The prototype provided proprioceptive input and gross motor opportunities through the elastic band loops and bug weights, and promoted the use of vestibular integrating equipment with the cape. Tactile opportunities were provided through the variety of materials. Fine and perceptual motor skills were promoted by the manipulatives on the cape and the opportunity to store fine motor activities in the cape pockets. Storing activities in the cape promoted smooth transitions, motor planning, organization, follow through, management, and self discipline. The bug theme appealed to the wearers' play interests and promoted imaginative scenarios during therapy, thus aiding in self organization and attention to task.
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    Therapy apparel for children diagnosed with sensory integration dysfunction
    (United States Patent and Trademark Office, 2002-06-11)
    Therapy apparel (10) is provided to assist in therapy sessions with children diagnosed with sensory integration dysfunction and impaired motor development. The apparel (10) includes a fabric top (14) to be worn over the shoulders and trunk of a child (12), together with a cape (16) and close-fitting headgear (18). The top (14) has fanciful theme decorations (e.g., a beetle) and is equipped with a series of flexible elastic straps for the feet, knees and hands of the child (12) and which can be used during a therapy session. The cape (18) is likewise theme-decorated and includes handholds (84) allowing the child (12) to spread the cape during imaginative play. The headgear (18) is constructed using padded side and sections (104, 106) with flexible elastic sections (108) between the sections (104, 106), and a chin strap (110) allowing the headgear (18) to be drawn into close conforming relationship with the child's head. A series of individual accouterments (114) can be placed on the headgear at the discretion of the child.