Allied Health Update

Occupational Therapy Tip: Spare Chew Necklace Cords

Some students use chew necklaces as part of their sensory regulation strategies at school. These can be a helpful tool for students who seek oral sensory input and may otherwise chew on items such as clothing, pencils or other objects.

A helpful reminder for families: Rather than purchasing a completely new chew necklace when the cord breaks or becomes worn, parents may wish to purchase a few spare replacement breakaway cords.

Replacement cords can often be purchased separately and allow the existing chew pendant to be reused, provided the chew itself is still in good condition. Having spare cords available at home can also help reduce the need to replace the entire necklace and may be a more cost-effective option for families.

Welcome Amy!

The Allied Health team would like to warmly welcome our new Physiotherapist, Amy, to Hamlyn Views School. Amy will be working at the school Monday to Thursday and we are very excited to have her join our team!

Please join us in welcoming Amy to the Hamlyn Views community.

October: AAC Awarness Month

October is International AAC Awareness Month! The core theme of AAC Awareness Month is “AAC in Everyday Life: Today, Tomorrow, and Beyond.”

AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) celebrates all the different ways we communicate, including communication books, visual supports, gestures, signs, symbols and speech-generating devices. AAC can support students to express their wants, needs, thoughts, feelings, opinions and ideas – both at school and at home.

Throughout October, our schoool will be celebrating AAC and highlighting the many ways our students communicate. We encourage families to join us by valuing all forms of communication, modelling AAC and giving students plenty of opportunities to communicate throughout everyday activities.