My book available here:
http://stores.lulu.com/autismbook1
http://www.autismspeaks.org/community/resources/books.php

THE BODY NEEDS TO MOVE: (This also includes fidgets and other sensory as well)

WHEN an Autistic person's vestibular is off, their all of their sensory is off and it feels much like "Alice and Wonderland" type of feel...always feel tippy and can be dizzy and things feel strange...can't tell where your body is in space so feel floaty and can have meltdowns. Also, it can feel like your body is on a freefall ride or on a roller coaster but your body is still...it can feel like your head isn't attached to your body -- it is the most uncomfortable and scary feeling. Sometimes holding the head with your hands over an Autistic person's head during a meltdown will help with the freefall feeling and help stop feelings of imbalance.

Sensory from the eyes, ears, mouth, stress, etc. is connected and can cause those feelings above as well.... It is a very complicating, confusing thing most of the time.


An incredible site located near Minnesota that provides un-beatable costs for therapy swings in-home/doctors office/schools. They travel to a lot of the Autism Conferences and have a package deal during those times! Check it out.

http://www.playawaytoy.com/

Images of these swings and mounts from playawaytoy in our house:


Wieghted belt from Achievement products & my weighted vest for when I need input top-half OR both (when took picture was needing both weighted vest/belt a ton)
This kangaroo hop ball from Achievement products (good for bounce input)



VIDEO!!! of swings and squeeze machine created by Temple Grandin who has autism herself. CORRECT ONE NOW!
http://news8austin.com/shared/video/video_pop.asp?destlist=30877


TACTILE STIMULATION:

Great site for fidgets, etc. that are great and are wonderful stims that appear to be "normal" in the typical world that even others who are typical would enjoy: its more of a not as noticeable type of fidget! There are of course fidgets that shouldn't be thought of as abnormal, but I guess would be considered a stare, however that shouldn't matter and if they are children, kids always bring stuff with them, even big things like dolls and strollers! So, here are a couple of those sites that I personally have ordered from!!! One is even called OFFICE playground!--adults love this site as well :)

http://specialkidszone.com/, http://www.officeplayground.com/stressreliever.html?engine=adwords!8540&keyword=%28fidgets%29&match_type=&gclid=COOLrKTOnYwCFRfOggodPlhO6A, http://ozmofun.com/

WHEN YOU NEED LOTS OF FIDGETS, AND WANT A LOT SMALL THINGS TO HELP DE-FUSE MELTDOWNS, ETC., go here: (it's not all christian stuff, and even though a lot is, even if you're not christian they're awesome fidgets - like party favors) http://dollarcross.com/