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General Suggestions:

• Decrease any visually distracting items from the activity area.
• Use paper, fabric (a towel or piece of cloth) of a preferred colour or add something shiny (like tinsel or tin foil) to attract the participant’s attention. This can be added to an implement like a ball (see photos for examples) or to a target.
• Soft materials may be easier for some individuals to grasp – try softer balls (like gator balls), a ball made of old pairs of socks, squishy things like a sponge, or soft toys.
  

  Shiny Ball

• Individuals who are not able to grasp can push an item off a platform or down a ramp made of a board, plastic, or other material. Try a longer piece of cardboard as a ramp.

Activities:

1) Scarf/Cloth Drop

a. Take a light scarf or piece of material and grasp it. Then raise your arm up as high as you can and drop the scarf to float down to the floor or on to their lap. Pick the scarf up and repeat, dropping the scarf in different areas and at different levels (floor, table, chair) which will cause you to move in different directions.

b. A target can be placed for you; move the target or ask a helper to do so.

2) Target Throw/Roll – A ball can be thrown, pushed, or otherwise propelled by the hands, arms, feet, or other body part.

a. Use a ramp or other item to set the ball on.

b. Set up targets on the floor – a large circle or square (try a favoured colour, shiny target or a target highlighted with light – e.g. with a flashlight). Targets can also be put on a wall, table, or elsewhere.

c. Try propelling the ball with different body parts by throwing, kicking, or pushing.

d. Try different sizes and textures of balls.

3) Target with Body Part or Bat

a. Create six targets in a circle by balancing six brightly coloured balls (such as soccer balls or volleyballs) on different sized plastic cones.

b. Use any body part, a light plastic bat, a pool noodle, or a crafted bat (e.g. a cardboard tube wrapped in tin foil, as shown in the photo) to knock the target ball off the cone.

c. For variety, create a maze pathway where participants must knock the ball off the cone in order to move on in the game.

4) Parachute – Use a parachute, large piece of cloth, bed sheet, beach towel (which works well if there are 2 people), or similar large piece of fabric. You can add handles or cut holes for easier grasping if you wish.

a. As the parachute is lifted up, make waves by alternating one hand up and one down. Participants can also move under the parachute – particularly fun if you have a colourful parachute outdoors on a sunny day.

b. Hand-under – hand guidance can be used to facilitate how to grasp and develop an understanding of the movement.

c. Check out some great games HERE.

5) Movement to Music – Free movement to music and dance is always lots of fun. Do
this activity in a comfortable position which provides the physical support necessary for the participant. You can make this part of a daily routine, or warm-up/cool down for other physical activities. You may wish to develop a play list of favourite music for this. Everyone should start at a pace appropriate for them and gradually build to the routine as appropriate for their individual circumstances.

a. Warm up with slow, large movements and dynamic stretching to slower music.

b. Different movements, counting to the beat, singing along, humming, clapping or tapping, and the use of musical instruments such as drums (pots) or just banging two sticks together can be added to enhance the experience.

c. Try sitting on a balance ball or Bosu Ball to bounce up and down to the beat of the music.

d. Cool down with slower music also.

Games & Sports:

1) Modified Disc Golf – A helper holds the target (a hula hoop) and the participant throws or places a brightly coloured frisbee, beach ball or beanbag through the hoop. The hoop should be a high contrast colour to the background, preferably a yellow hoop placed in front of a darker background.

2) Follow the Path – Create a path using brightly coloured pool noodles. The colour should be a higher contrast to the colour of the floor. Place objects at different points along the path that the participant must reach for. For extra motivation, use the participant’s favorite toy or object.

3) Pool Noodle Hockey – Use a pool noodle or a lightweight hockey stick (placed between the arm and torso for those participants who cannot grasp the noodle) to push a beanbag or light toy or object along a smooth surface into a goal.

4) Dropping Game – Place six solid round dots in high contrast colours in a semi-circle. The participant drops a beanbag onto each dot. Ensure that background colours are in high contrast to the dots and the bean bags.

5) Boccia – Take a look at “Boccia for Students with CVI” on the PRCVI website HERE for some photos of the colourful parachute and parachute activities, different sizes and colours of balls, and ramps made from PCV pipe, as well as targets set up with different coloured cardboard and cones. There is also a description of the sport and adaptation suggestions. Click HERE for a do-it-yourself ramp idea for bowling or boccia.