#25 Imitation Basics You Should Know: Pediatric Physical Therapy for Autism

I noticed in this video I misspoke. The steps I work through are:
1.Verbal cue
2.Prior Model/Demonstration
3. Immediate Model/Demonstration
4. Prior Physical Assist
5. Physical Assist
In this video series, I give my thoughts and suggestions about the treatment of children with autism. I believe physical therapists have a lot to offer to this population. We are experts in motor planning and interactive play. In this video series, I start with the most important and simplest skills/concepts and work my way up in difficulty. Unfortunately, I could not do this video series with a child with autism, but I hope you find this information helpful to guide you in treatment, home programming, and telehealth for children with autism.
My website is www.pediatricPTexercises.com. My Facebook page is Pediatric Physical Therapy Exercises. My informational books, "A is for Autism," "C is for Cerebral Palsy," "D is for Down Syndrome," "Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Hips" and "Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Knees" are available on Amazon. "A is for ADHD" should be available shortly. Do not hesitate to contact me at [e-mail] with questions, concerns or favorable reviews! Please note I am unable to provide treatment recommendations for a child I have not personally evaluated.
I am so honored to have people from all over the world watch my videos. I have reviewed and corrected the closed captions for this video so that you might understand what I am saying even if you don't speak English. I hope the directions below are helpful to you.
To turn on Captions, click CC in the bottom right corner of the video
To choose a different caption language:
At the bottom right, click Settings. It looks like a wheel.
Click Subtitles/CC.
Select a language.
If the language isn't listed when you click Subtitles/CC:
Click Auto-translate.
Select a language.
Of course, if the captions are in the way of viewing the details in the video, you can always turn them off in the bottom right-hand corner of your video screen.
Here are the links for my books on Amazon:
"A is for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder"
www.amazon.com...
"C is for Cerebral Palsy"
www.amazon.com...
"D is for Down Syndrome"
www.amazon.com...
"A is for Autism"
www.amazon.com...
"Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Hips"
www.amazon.com...
"Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Knees"
www.amazon.com/...
"Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Ankles"
www.amazon.com...

[@kgaccount]

Sadly, physical therapy is often unacessible to people with severe autism who have severe behavioral challenges. We tried for years to get our son PT and it failed everytime. He won't listen. Won't sit or do the exercises. Physical therapists always gave up and said his behaviors were "too difficult" and one said, "limited potential for progress." Well, we finally found a mobility device that seems like it's going to bring positive results! Got it today. Called the Pacer Gait Trainer, by Rifton. This was all because ONE PT didn't give up on our son and suggested this incredibly helpful and promising mobility device. So grateful for his compassion and creative thinking.

[@pediatricPTexercises]

I love the Rifton Pacer. We have multiple sizes at our clinic. I think that more education needs to be given to PT’s so they have more ideas so they don’t have to give up. I think those other PTs just didn’t know the Rifton Pacer option. In any case, I am so happy for you.

[@MeezHass]

Very impressive information. I have a 5yrs old autistic son. Currently the therapists and as a mother we are working with my son on his physical imitation. Object imitation he is doing great but when it comes to physical one he is relying on the prompt. It isnt the case that he doesnt know for e.g clapping but he just not willing to do it. He does it half heartedly with two hands making it to clap but relying on the therapist to Join and do the clapping. But when he wants he does it. So, how do you work with these kiddos especially if they have potential and can do it but just not willing. Ill be grateful if you can help. P.S: I have also request his therapist to use rhymes as a motivation like for e.g to sing a song if you happy and you know it clap your hands. And we have to put more emphasis upon the subject matter. Do you think it will work this method. Thank you soo much.

[@pediatricPTexercises]

Yes I am a big believer in using music to help. If a child is not motivated to clap you can always try to amp up the motivation making it immediate and visually obvious. It is hard. You can’t easily teach inner drive

[@libbycampbell2487]

Hi Amy! I am an SPTA currently on a school-setting pediatric rotation for developmentally delayed and mostly non-verbal children. I have been finding your videos to be very helpful and informative! I am currently working with a little girl who is capable of a lot when functioning independently (as seen in telehealth sessions prior to coming back into the school setting), but is not motivated by much and is very prompt dependent. Do you have any tips on progressing her to perform tasks independently?

[@pediatricPTexercises]

Prompt dependency is really hard to break. I think it is something the whole team has to work on together. Everyone has to agree not to do whatever the prompt is that is required starting in the most motivating circumstances. Talk to the parents and teachers to find the motivators. Those are critical. You also have to really obviously link the 2. I use a first then board to help

[@pediatricPTexercises]

I’d love to answer that question on a video. Could I ask you to send me a video of that question?

[@libbycampbell2487]

@@pediatricPTexercises I’d love to! Is there a way for me to send it to you?

[@pediatricPTexercises]

Send it to me at [e-mail]. Use Google Drive if possible. That won’t decrease the quality of the video.

[@dcp_angel]

Amy, hallo. My name is Roman Solovyov. We are coworkers, but I from Moscow. I working with children whith cerebral palsy and I have a daughter with CP. May ask your advice, please? Where I can get education course of pediatric physical therapy? Is your country course? Maybe USA? If yes, what paper I should prepare ?

[@pediatricPTexercises]

Since you emailed me the same question, I emailed the answer to you. Best of luck!

[@dcp_angel]

@@pediatricPTexercises , thanks, dear. I recieved your mail. Learn it. I'll text you later :) do you have Instagram ? Or Facebook ?

[@pediatricPTexercises]

@@dcp_angel I am am Instagram at PediatricPTExercises and on Facebook at Pediatric Physical Therapy Exercises

[@LauraLearnsItAll]

Are there any good exercise videos for young children on the spectrum? I’ve been unable to find anything like that that would be good.

[@pediatricPTexercises]

That is a very difficult question without knowing a specific child. Many of the videos from the learning station are good. There’s a video freeze dance that is good. I have slowed the videos down to 50% speed on KZbin to try to make them easier. But mostly, I have not found videos incredibly successful for me. I think some other therapists have.