Southpaw's Adjustable Floor Mirror and Chalkboard is an essential piece of equipment for speech, occupational, and physical therapists. There are many different applications it can be used for.
Helps Develop Fine Motor Skills
The chalkboard side of the Adjustable Floor Mirror and Chalkboard can be used to develop fine motor skills. Therapists can teach their client to use a tripod grasp while holding chalk. If the chalkboard is positioned in a flat position on the floor, range of motion in the body is increased, and if it is placed more at eye level and straight in front of the face with the stand deployed, the chalkboard helps develop arm strength and the ability to extend the wrist when writing.
Provides a Focal Point During Physical Therapy
The Adjustable Floor Mirror can be used as a focal point during occupational and physical therapy to encourage the head to stay in a forward-facing position. Using visual feedback, the head is encouraged to stay in proper alignment during gait training exercises, particularly those that use a treadmill.
Helps Develop Visual Guidance and Self Awareness Skills During Occupational Therapy
For children with Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD), including autism, ADHD, and asperger's, visual guidance skills can be improved by placing a mirror in front of the face while walking on a treadmill. This ability to look straight ahead while walking helps foster more independence by encouraging a forward facing stance. The Adjustable Floor Mirror also helps to develop positive self awareness in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). As early as 6 weeks old, mirrors can be used to increase imitation skills. By pointing to the child's reflected image, therapists, teachers, caregivers and parents can teach body awareness and proprioceptive skills.
The client can also be directed to point at their corresponding body part at the same time it is named by the therapist. Mirror work in children with SPD also helps to develop a sense of self control by demonstrating what different emotions look like. Therapists can prompt the child on what emotion to make and the child can see what that emotion looks like in the mirror. This helps with being able to interpret body language and facial expressions, which assists in social situations where facial expression of emotions can sometimes be confusing to discern between.
Help Develop Speech Skills
The mirror can also be used during speech therapy so clients can see the way their mouth, lips, and tongue move when pronouncing words.
