Autism and Special Needs Therapy Vest

Feel free to go to www.functional4ms.com and get in detail information about this one of a kind product.

Teaching children with developmental disabilities has never been easier! Functional 4ms provides the framework that makes learning fun and easy to do. Our signature product, the Therapy Uni4m, is a vest that is worn by anyone working with an individual with special needs, and keeps them organized during therapy sessions by making all necessary materials readily accessible. Based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis, designed and developed by behavior therapists, the Therapy Uni4m plays a large role in making leaning fun. Ideal for use by parents, and professionals in multiple environments including the home, school, and center, this comfortable, light weight, and breathable product brings a demanded level of professionalism towards the field.

One of the most important tasks when teaching an individual with special needs is capturing and maintaining their attention. This becomes increasingly difficult as more variables enter into the equation.  The special needs individual can sometimes have a number of different people teaching and supporting them. From their teacher in school, to their therapists, and finally their parents and loved ones, it is difficult for them to keep track of what to expect from each person. As time passes by, certain relationships and expectations are formed between the special needs individual and his/her caregivers and environment. It takes a great deal of time for these bonds to form, however when they do the special needs individual begins to learn much faster, and interact at a significantly higher level. Unfortunately, as often happens, therapists change, teachers move, and ultimately these valuable bonds are broken creating havoc for the special needs individual. Many times the caregiver has little control over these important changes, however now there is a way to help mitigate these changes, to help control for this variability.

The Functional Uni4m is a valuable tool that can help control the variability in the life of a special needs individual. When being worn by the teacher, parent, and therapist the individual may find it easier to transfer the bonds they have made with one person, to the next. Additionally, the Uni4m identifies the person wearing the Functional Uni4m as being motivating and stimulating! Teaching, and various forms of therapy, can sometimes be boring and repetitive to an individual with special needs. “Touch your head” says the therapist “good job”. . . “touch your head” says the therapist. “Good job”. This repetition is important, however it is difficult to maintain the required high level of participation and motivation from the individual in order to optimize the therapy session. By wearing the Functional Uni4m the therapist/parent/teacher can be instantly identified as being highly motivating and stimulating, and can keep the special needs individual actively participating.

The Functional Uni4m is based on the principles of a highly regarded teaching/therapy method called Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).  In ABA, therapists, teachers, and parents constantly give the special needs individual rewards for behaving and responding in the desired way. Those rewards, termed reinforcers, should be based on the preferences and interests of the special needs individual. The reinforcer must be appealing enough to the individual to motivate and elicit an action. It is extremely important that those rewards are so interesting and motivating to the special needs individual that they respond to the parents/teacher/therapist and provide the hard work effort required to achieve significant gains in learning. By wearing the Functional Uni4m, the special needs individual identifies this person as one that has these highly motivating and interesting rewards. This can have a significant impact on the individual and quickly help gain their attention and desire to respond.

Michelle Schondorf, co-founder and owner of Functional 4ms describes her approach of using the therapy Uni4m to help children with autism be motivated and have a desire to learn from the parent/teacher/therapist.  It is all about the relationship and connection that the individual who is wearing the Uni4m has created with the child.

“The main idea is to get the child to pay attention and recognize that reinforcers and rewards are coming from the person that is wearing the Uni4m. You get them to pay attention to the candy that is inside the clear pocket that is velcroed to the Uni4m. Or you get them to pay attention to the tokens that are velcroed to the Uni4m. Soon enough you can pair the rewards you are giving with the individual wearing the Uni4m. The special needs individual quickly becomes engaged, excited and begins looking at your face to see what fun things are going to follow. One of the most crucial things about working with special needs individuals is that they must like you. They must see you as being fun and exciting. If you constantly have new reinforcers hidden in the Uni4m’s pockets, and are surprising your students and keeping them motivated, they are going to be more willing to learn with you. If every time you walk into the child’s home wearing a Uni4m filled with exiting reinforcers, and the child is sitting quietly, looking directly at you, waiting to see what surprises you have hidden inside, chances are you will be more successful in teaching them important skills."

Sizes:

		S		M		L
Chest (inches)		29-31		30-32		34-36

 

-Fabric type: Cotton interlock

 

-Directions for washing: Adhere Velcro together, put inside out, wash on cold, hang to dry.

 

-Only available in black

 

-3/4 inch side grommets

 

-Made in USA